At the start of this election I didn’t think Abbott had a chance. I thought it would be a one-sided affair, I think I said “it’s Gillard’s to lose, and Abbott’s to win”. Well it turns out it’s a lot closer than I, or any other media commentators, thought it would be. Abbott has campaigned magnificently and now the parties are split evenly, 50/50. Tomorrow night will be neck and neck to the finish.
Yesterday research showed 30% of voters still hadn’t made up their mind. More than ever voters are perplexed, voters are disenchanted and without a clue what to do. The Greens are going to win a lot of support with protest votes from people who just can’t bring themselves to choose Liberal or Labor.
One thing is for sure, there’s been a lot of rubbish fed to us throughout the campaign. A lot of spin, a lot of criticising, and no monumental, inspirational policy announcements. All the while I’ve been trying to use this site as a place for telling it how it is, explaining the policies minus the BS. So on Election Eve, here’s a complete wrap up of everything you need to know. A guide to helping you make a decision, plus some answers to common questions I’ve been getting.
Health
|
Labor |
Liberal |
Greens |
|
60% takeover of public hospitals, $50M investment there. Another $5.5 Billion emergency services, surgery, 5500 new GP’s |
100% takeover of public hospitals. $3.8B for more GP’s and services. $1.5 B funding for mental health services program. |
Mental health services agenda - $350M, dental services added to Medicare. Greater funding for public hospitals by abolishing 30% Private health insurance rebate |
|
Plenty of money being thrown around in health and the policies don’t differ too much. The notable difference comes with services for mental health, in which the Labor party is lacking. |
||
Education
|
Labor |
Liberal |
Greens |
|
Continue with Building Education Revolution program. Incentives for teachers and families. |
Take money from that and give to schools to spend locally. Incentives to teachers and families. Trial of HECS reduction scheme for student volunteers |
Abolish uni fees, get rid of HECS debt – has impact on taxes |
|
This one has also become one of the big policy battlegrounds, and so both Gillard and Abbott have announced strong policy on education. Not too different from each other. Notable difference is Labor’s additional recognition of funding to Indigenous education with $4 Billion – towards ‘closing the gap’ |
||
Economy
|
Labor |
Liberal |
Greens |
|
Return budget to surplus in 2013 of $3.5B. Continue with new mining tax. NBN to roll out nationally. |
Get into surplus by $6B in same year plus pay off debt by 2014. Get rid of mining tax . Against NBN, wants cheaper option. |
Back to original super profits tax which would bring in about $23B. Oppose GST. |
|
In the big picture, the election won’t have much of an impact on our economy. The RBA continues to be independent of government and makes all the important decisions, and market forces will continue to dictate what happens. Governments can influence the economic environment, but in the end both parties will manage the economy pretty well. Although an even result could dissuade foreign investors. |
||
Immigration and border control
|
Labor |
Liberal |
Greens |
|
Regional processing centre in East Timor. Lifted ban on Sri Lankan asylum claims. $200 M towards affordable housing in regional areas. Avoid BIG Australia |
Regional processing centre in Nauru and stronger border controls. Cut immigration by 100 000 per year to cap population growth |
No mandatory detention, no offshore processing of asylum seekers, increase refugee program. |
|
The asylum seeker ‘issue’ has been one of the more farcical points of contention in this election, considering it’s relatively small significance. Purely a vote-winner. Both Gillard and Abbott support population controls which include cuts to immigration |
||
Environment
|
Labor |
Liberal |
Greens |
|
Heavy emphasis on renewable energy, goal of %5 reduction by 2020, up to 15%. Upgrade of river system management. Revisit ETS. |
Reduction of 5% through efficiency |
Goal of 40% reduction by 2020, stronger policy and carbon tax. 30% of energy is renewable by 2020. Pro Carbon tax. |
|
The Greens are the obvious leaders in environment policy with some strong ideas. Both Liberal and Labor have been pretty soft. Both have promised huge funds to the Murray-Darling basin, and are shooting for reductions in emissions through more conscience energy use. Labor will revisit the possibility of an ETS. |
||
Parents and Workplace
|
Labor |
Liberal |
Greens |
|
Front-end loading baby bonus payments. 18 weeks paid parental leave. Plus Dads get a fortnight’s paid leave. More efficient Super with lower fees |
Workplaces gone. 1.7% levy on big business to fund paid parental leave scheme - 26 week’s leave. |
Support a 6-month paid parental eave scheme for Dads paid at minimum wage including super. 26 weeks paid parental leave, including super. |
|
There’s never been a better time to have a baby. You get bonuses, you get plenty of paid time off work. Why wasn’t this happening 20 years ago when Libby and I were popping themout? |
||
Young People
|
Labor |
Liberal |
Greens |
|
Family support up $4000 per teenager. $6000 bonus for young unemployed to move to regional areas for work. |
Plan to get young people off welfare with cash bonuses. $6000 relocation bonus, like Labor. |
Less focus on youth and more on welfare of disabled, of elderly and homeless people. |
|
Plus, on the reverse, both have pledged $900 Million to aged care and services for the elderly. |
||
The controversials – gay marriage, abortion, euthanasia
|
Labor |
Liberal |
Greens |
|
Against gay marriage Supports and conscience vote on abortion. Won’t change laws on euthanasia |
Against gay marriage Openly anti-abortion, but won’t change laws Open to a conscience vote |
Pro gay marriage. Pro abortion, women have right to safe termination services. Pro euthanasia |
There you have it. Now go and enjoy exercising your democratic right. Don’t forget that in the end, whichever side gets in is going to do a good job. Yes they have little differences and we vote based on the policies that affect us as individuals. Both as a nation, in the big picture, we should feel pretty lucky that the two parties running for government are both sensible, stable and looking out for us. Either way, we’re in pretty good hands.
Just think about the way we vote. No guns, no vote rigging, decent parties and fundamentally good politicians.
How lucky are we.
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Comments
It is so hard to understand the policies when I watch the evening news. They seem to focus on the funny side events rather than simplifying it for the population.
Let's get some real democracy going for the future of OUR country, not one journalists political views.
We have 10.3% unemployment, one of thing that the Green's-LAbour want to do is bring in more fishing closures and to see the map looks like all coast lines of Australia, NO One has touched on this, if Abbott is elected they will re look at this but on re look, we are looking at complete shut down of industries and then the flow on effect is astonishing, we realy need to get someone to look into and assess this as a main problem, ok vote for the fishing party and try and stop Green's getting power but this will not stop a major catastrophy from happening. MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE and MORE FOCUS On THIS, I hope the media maybe able to pick up a story here and help the people of Cairns and coastal towns from full collapse.
thanks for this info. Could you add another section on funding for the promises. The gov't gives with one hand & takes with the other, I'd like to see what we're losing to provide the promises they've made.
Cheers
I've also been working on my website (http://polliethink.com) which aims to do what you've done today, but on a much broader scale. Unfortunately I ran out of time getting the issues prepared and getting a bit of publicity for the site, but it might help some people :)
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