*Pic: ‘Sleeping Beauty breathing out vapour …” Cathy Temby’s picture, taken ‘on a very cold morning’ is from HERE
In contributing to TT posts recently regarding choice for Tasmanian Senate candidates for the upcoming federal election, I discovered the diversity of parties on offer and realised how little, or even nothing, I knew of them. So I decided to follow the links provided in http://www.abc.net.au/news/federal-election-2016/guide/stas/ to get a flavour for each.
Limitations: Sampling bias. My biases (policy priorities) for sampling are dominated unashamedly by signs (or not) of effective action on climate change and the environment. A few other issues of interest caught my eye (again showing my biased mind). The parties below have been picked ‘randomly’ through curiosity and my lack of knowing what the parties espouse. They have been listed in an order bearing no relation to my own voting preferences. Key statements are in bold.
Citizens Electoral Council:
“ Energy Policy: Save People, Industries from Climate Change Hoax
Man-made global warming is a fraud. The so-called scientific “consensus” is a lie, designed to steamroll governments into adopting brutal policies that will shut down farming, manufacturing and energy industries, and kill millions of people. “
Flux Party:
“ Our politics is MIA. It’s DOA. Even worse, it’s DOS. Parliament is a 19th century power structure that no longer works in the modern age. The system needs to process more information every day than one could read in a lifetime. The demands for governmental specialisation and decentralisation have never been higher. Yet the gridlocks of lobbyists, party politics and hesitation block up the system. That’s why it’s time for an upgrade. Flux is a party come election time but once we have elected MP’s and senators that’s where the difference begins. Your Flux representatives give up their autonomy and vote according to the people. They cast their votes in line with the outcomes produced by the Flux ecosystem comprised of ordinary Aussies like you. “
Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party:
“ We stand for: Justice in sentencing; Bail reform; Parole reform; Domestic violence law reform; Equality; Animal justice; Public register of convicted sex offenders; Voluntary Euthanasia. “
Liberal Democrats:
Most recognisably represented by Senator Leyonhjelm, NSW. The LDP policies are many and very detailed. I found it difficult to limit myself to just one stand-out or telling (from my perspective) example.
“ Principles
There is nothing inherently superior about the “natural” environment … The LDP values the natural environment within the context of a prosperous society that provides equal protection under the law and is based on respect for individual freedom, personal responsibility, small government and the defence of private property.
We reject compulsory confiscation and encroachment of property rights and restriction of individual freedom in the name of the environment.
Native vegetation
Native vegetation simply means the species of vegetation that were present prior to European settlement. It is a somewhat artificial term as it includes all such species, whether they arrived the day before European settlement, 40,000 years ago with Aboriginal migration or 100,000 years ago by bird migration.
… However, a lot of species introduced by Europeans are far more useful to humans. Indeed, Australia would not be able to support a fraction of its current population were it not for exotic species.
The decision to grow native or exotic vegetation is a matter for landowners, not the government. The same applies to its removal. … The LDP will abolish any law compelling private landholders either to do, or not to do, any act for purposes of satisfying other people’s values or opinions about native vegetation.
Forestry
Australia’s hardwood industry is severely handicapped by extremist policies that refuse to acknowledge its benefits and sustainability. Locking up vast areas of forest on the basis that it is “old growth” is folly.
Endangered species
The species most in danger of extinction are those owned by government or which are not the subject of private property rights.
The best way to protect native species from extinction is to make them valuable. This is obvious from the fact that apple trees and cats and dogs are in no danger of extinction, despite being entirely unprotected by the government.
Fishing and Whaling
As with any species living in the wild, the best way to ensure the preservation of fish and whales is to make them subject to commercial value.
The LDP does not oppose the harvesting of certain species of whales for food provided the survival of the species is not threatened. We respect the cultural significance of whales as food to some people and do not support Australia’s opposition to such traditions simply because our culture is different.
Hunting and Eating Native Species
The hunting of certain native animals is one of the few means by which they can be given a commercial value that ensures their survival. In some areas of Africa, commercial hunting of big game species has made them so commercially valuable that poaching is no longer a problem.
The LDP would remove regulatory barriers to sustainable yield hunting by both amateur and professional hunters of kangaroos, crocodiles and ducks.
Global warming
The LDP’s policy on global warming can be found in the Energy policy.
Energy
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) believes:
That atmospheric carbon dioxide is increasing but considers the consequences of this, whether it is due to human influence and if anything can or should be done about it, as too uncertain to warrant government action. “
Anti-paedophile Party:
“We seek to bring about legislative change that will make children safe from all forms of abuse, especially sexual abuse. Presently in Australia it is almost impossible to prosecute the commonest form of sexual abuse: that abuse that takes place within the family. These paedophiles commonly seek refuge from prosecution in the Family Court of Australia, where they are protected from prosecution and are given custody of the children whom they have abused. “
Jacqui Lambie Network:
JLN believes in climate change and the need to de-carbonise the base-load energy production of all the world’s nations. However, JLN also understands the critical need to protect Australian workers’ wages, conditions and job security by ensuring that, when compared with international competitors, our manufacturers, businesses and households are able to access some of the world’s most reliable and cheapest electricity and energy. JLN understands that a carbon tax or Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will ultimately increase the cost of energy to Australian businesses and households – and will strongly oppose the introduction of either energy taxes – until a binding world agreement on these taxes is reached by our major trading partners.
In the meantime, while Australia waits for the world agreement on a carbon tax or an ETS, JNL strongly supports the following two measures, which are assured to quickly lower carbon emissions while keeping power prices low, while guaranteeing reliability of supply:
1. The doubling of base-load renewable energy in the form of Hydro Electricity
2. A community debate, followed by a national referendum on the introduction of nuclear power generation “
(JNL does not have a policy for the environment).
I hope you have found at least some of this revealing and informative. I certainly have! Our democracy is such a precious thing. In order for it to remain fully functional and not slowly slip into dystopia, it requires the active participation of all of its citizens. In my opinion, a vote should not be treated carelessly or wasted mindlessly, but given thoughtfully to those (parties &/or independents) who deserve your vote and will serve as a reflection of your informed opinion.
Part 2 tomorrow …
