Australian Politics 101
We’ve been busy trying to explain the Australian political process to Clare. We’ve told her that there are different levels of government, and that the election that took place yesterday was the Federal election, which is the one for the whole country (the State election is coming up later in the year). We’ve told her that the Federal election is about who will be running the country and making decisions about issues that affect everyone across Australia. We’ve explained that there are two Houses of Parliament, the House of Representatives and the Senate, and that each is voted for in a different way. We’ve explained that in Australia there are two major political parties, the Labor Party, headed by Julia Gillard, and the Liberal/National coalition, headed by Tony Abbot. We’ve explained that there are other parties too, such as the Greens, and there are independents that aren’t aligned to a particular party. We’ve explained that each party has it’s own policies and ways of approaching issues, and that people vote for the person in their area that will represent them according to what that person and their party say about their policies. We’ve explained how preferences operate and how votes then pass from one party to another party. Clare has been asking lots of insightful questions and I’m very impressed by her seven-and-a-half-year-old grasp of what is going on.
And Stella? With all this talk of parties, she insisted on wearing her party dress today. She’s been running around the house singing “Happy Birthday”. She thinks she’s going to a party. Can’t say that I’m celebrating at the moment though…
Edited to add for the benefit of non-Australian readers: As of lunchtime Sunday, Lisette at Textile Seahorse has posted an excellent summary of where things curently stand, which includes the following:
- a hung parliament
- balance of power spread among five white middle class men whose views range across the spectrum
- the youngest ever MP (who is 20)
- the first Aboriginal MP
- the first Green MP
and more interesting facts you can read here
From your last statement, I’m gathering that your candidate did not win. Sorry about that! But thanks for posting about your form of government and how you vote. It was very interesting.
I LOVE Stella’s party dress! I made my daughter Lily a border print party dress when she was about 3 also. I will try to find a photo to share with you. Your fabric choice is perfect!
oh wow – that was a surprise – thanks 🙂 i was reading your post with interest when i fell over my name 🙂