The cost of a vote

[Chucaro]

The major parties are seeking to reform the way political parties are funded, with the expected compromise to pay parties and independent candidates $1 for each vote they receive at a federal election to cover administrative costs
Senator Madigan says MPs are "going to have another dip in the trough at the public's expense" and asks "we wonder why people hate politicians' bloody guts".

.........were is my cup of coffee............

[DiscoMick]

We already have a system of taxpayer support for electoral candidates - it's kept Pauline Hanson in the money for years, despite repeatedly losing. This is just an attempt to reform the system.

[feral]

Its more that just reform

The Labor Party is broke. New members are not joining and it is not receiving donations to fund its election campaign and beyond.

So what do they do, and do what they do best?

Oh..I know...lets gouge the taxpayer and they can fund our stupid ideas and legacies.

And the Liberals will just roll with it so it can all slip under the radar and Labor can cop the heat.


The political system in this country is broken and us typical Aussies are too gutless and weak to stand up to this nonsense and we will just roll over, as usual.

[Homestar]

This system has been in place for years, and already costs us $2.40 per vote to cover admin costs. If you abolish this you end up with only rich people being able to afford to run for parliament. Not sure about you, but I think there are enough of them already. This payment hasn't increased in years.

It's not about if you agree with a certain person or party, it is the same for everyone. This biased reporting making people think we are being ripped off is just gutter journalism....

[feral]

Who said about to abolish existing funding?

This is additional funding on top of whatever else they get. Not to mention the hidden costs and special allocations that get swept up in the mix.

"SWEEPING changes to electoral law being pursued by the Gillard government could deliver a windfall $20 million to the two major political parties to cover their campaigning costs for the upcoming election.

Despite budget deficits of almost $50 billion forecast for this and the next two years, Labor will introduce legislation in this sitting period to facilitate so-called "administrative funding" of $1 per primary vote gained in the House of Representatives and Senate at the September 14 election, and other measures, at a cost over the forward estimates of $58.1m."


Sure, if we want to play it that way, I would like to see full transparency of all donations moneys and funding given to all parties that run. So, if I give $1 to a party it should be for all the public to see. Full transparency. Full disclosure.

It is the only way to remove the corruption that is locked in our present political system.

[Homestar]

You pay peanuts, you get monkeys.... Look what we have to put up with at the moment... On both sides...

[feral]

You're beginning to roll over......

[superquag]

My brilliant deductive mind can forsee a higher than usual invalid vote... especially if folk realized that this would ensure that NO party or candidate got the $2.40 + the extra $1.

Heard a suggestion for a new political movement called NOTA, or None of The Above.

They're campaigning for another tick-box on the bottom of all ballot papers.

[Homestar]

My brilliant deductive mind can forsee a higher than usual invalid vote... especially if folk realized that this would ensure that NO party or candidate got the $2.40 + the extra $1.

Heard a suggestion for a new political movement called NOTA, or None of The Above.

They're campaigning for another tick-box on the bottom of all ballot papers.

Hmmm, I wonder if I should start a Political party called 'None of the above'...

How much would I make out of that???

[newhue]

You pay peanuts, you get monkeys.... Look what we have to put up with at the moment... On both sides...

Isn't our fearless leader one of the highest paid in the business. Anyway why would a successful person want to join the land of the little kings. It's all party perimeters, internal squabbling, egos, and career driven power trips.

My brilliant deductive mind can forsee a higher than usual invalid vote... especially if folk realized that this would ensure that NO party or candidate got the $2.40 + the extra $1.

Heard a suggestion for a new political movement called NOTA, or None of The Above.

They're campaigning for another tick-box on the bottom of all ballot papers.

I sit back and listen to my Federal member bro in law talk about how stupid people are for not voting. Just cost money with no outcome. I sit there and think stupid ****, my invalid vote is a vote of frustration. It is saying I'm not voting for boofhead or bozo. But they are so one eyed and party channeled they can't see anything else.
When I say both parties are similar, he assures me the Libs are nothing like the union hacking labor mob. Maybe so on one fact, but again so party hood winked they can't see they are both shades of grey. And I have pulled him up several times of his party being just as corrupt as the other side. But as usual, it's how you see politics.