AK's Australian Election Series - 2002

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

NOTE:

As you've all probably noticed, the gap between entries in this series has been getting larger. I would just like to state this is because I don't have as much free time as I used to, and thus don't get as much as time to invest in the series. I also believe in finishing what I start, and would love to see this series through to the end (final election will be 2014/15).

Anyway, here's the 1999-2002 summary of events:
In perhaps Australia's messiest election to date, the far-left made massive gains in the wake of the fall of the government. On the other side, the new Conservative Party disappointed in terms of performance, while maintaining much of the Progress vote, and in some cases going forward, a larger portion of the National vote was lost. The Democrats mopped up some of the Progress vote from the old party's left, while the Patriotic Front made some gains, and ex-National MP Bob Katter was returned as an independent in Queensland. The previously largest left-wing party, Natural Law, sank below Labor. PM Bob Brown announced his resignation as PM on the 28th of June, when it was apparent that Natural Law was no longer the largest party on the left, and no longer in a position to lead a government.

Summary of 1999 election:

House of Representatives
Conservative – 78 (-4)*
Labor – 46 (+4)
Democrats – 25 (+17)
Natural Law – 24 (-27)
Patriotic Front – 17 (+3)
Anticapitalist Alliance – 9 (+6)**
Independent - 1 (+1)

* Conservative change is from 1997 combined Progress and National totals.
** Anticapitalist Alliance change is from 1997 Socialist Alternative total.

Senate
1997: 17 Conservative, 11 Labor, 8 Democrats, 6 Natural Law, 4 Patriotic Front, 2 Anticapitalist Alliance
1999: 20 Conservative, 11 Labor, 9 Democrats, 7 Natural Law, 3 Patriotic Front, 2 Anticapitalist Alliance
Total: 37 Conservative, 22 Labor, 17 Democrats, 13 Natural Law, 7 Patriotic Front, 4 Anticapitalist Alliance

Two-party preferred vote: 54.21-45.79

While the Conservatives had emerged as the largest party, they were very short of forming a government, losing four seats from the combined Progress/National figure of 1997. No party, with the exception of some fringe Natural Law members, wanted to form government with the Anticapitalist Alliance, the Patriotic Front was ruled out by default, and Labor, Natural Law and the Democrats only held 95 seats between them, lower than the 97 they had in minority government. Bob Brown, still Natural Law leader, was fed up of unity governments, thinking back to the 1994-97 unity government, and resigned as Natural Law leader on the 1st of July, although remaining in Parliament. He would be replaced by Kerry Nettle, from New South Wales, as leader of the party. Paul Keating was also re-elected as President at the same time.

The onus then turned to Peter Costello to form a government. Costello, while fiscally conservative, was a social moderate, and thus more open to working with the likes of the Democrats than the final Progress leader, Alexander Downer. With the left not wanting to work with the Anticapitalist Alliance, Labor leader Kim Beazley ruling out participation in any Conservative-led government, and the Conservatives not wanting to work with the Patriotic Front, Costello began talks with Democrat leader Meg Lees, about forming a government, which would have majorities in both chambers.  The usual dismay from voters of all ideologies ensued, but Costello and Lees stated "A majority of Australian states and electorates supported our platforms".

Eventually, on the 10th of July, 1999, it was announced Australia would be governed by a Conservative-Democrat government, with a majority of 6 in the House of Representatives, and a majority of 8 in the Senate. Under the agreement, Lees would become Deputy PM, the Democrats would be allowed up to one-fifth of the ministries, although former National MPs would have traditional National ministries, Agriculture and Trade to name two. Lees would get the Communications Ministry, in addition to the post of Deputy PM.

On the 12th of July, 1999, the governmental agreement was issued jointly by PM Costello and Deputy PM Lees:

• A cut in the Senate to 76 (changed from 75, to ensure the territories lose no Senators)
• A discussion on industrial relations reform.
• Repeal and lowering of some taxes, particularly the new car tax in the event of the former, and some income tax cuts when the budget allows for them.
• Reservation of land in outer western Sydney for a second airport.
• Investment in Internet connections, particularly in regional and rural Australia.
• A move back towards decentralised (ie state and local) governance)
• Other issues to be discussed, as in previous unity, minority and coalition government, as the Parliament progressed.

Early in the term of the new Government, on the 30th of August, 1999, East Timor declared independence from Indonesia. When the ensuing violence broke out, after a vote to become independent, following almost a quarter a century since Portugal decolonised the country, Australians, who supported East Timor's independence from Indonesia, was not pleased, and PM Costello contacted US President Bill Clinton to support an Australian-led peacekeeping mission, prior to approval from the Australian Parliament. A prompt vote in both chambers saw the Patriotic Front boycott the vote, a trend of theirs, along with the Anticapitalist Alliance, while Labor under Kim Beazley supported the motion, and Natural Law allowed its members to have a free vote.

Indonesia quickly relented, partly because they were still recovering from the late 1990s financial crisis in the area. The Australian peacekeeping forces arrived on the 20th of September. The Indonesian withdrawl would be complete by the end of October. East Timor would then be under UN administration until 2002, when control was turned over to the new Government. Before the millennium was out, the government negotiated a new response regarding an influx of illegal immigrants, to ensure Australia was kept safe, while ensuring all of those genuinely fleeing persecution, under the UN charter, were processed appropriately. This was a tough negotiation for the government, given Costello and Lees' stances, along with those of their parties, and resulted in deploying police to border checkpoints,    while rejecting those who were found to be people smugglers.

Large parties kicked off the new millennium, but a mere ten days later saw a large ecstasy bust in Brisbane, with 7 arrests. Negotiations to loosen IR laws, for a "balanced" system that while it increased some restrictions on striking, and abolished the likes of unfair dismissal laws would be retained, and industries were free to decide on how unionised they would be. Some unions protested, but some were pleased that unfair dismissal laws and the like would not be erased. Early 2000 saw the revelation of the Government's Internet plans, with all new schools to receive funding for new broadband Internet connections, along with new neighbourhoods to be "broadband-ready".
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A quarter of a million people, on the 28th of May, walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, in a walk for Aboriginal reconcilation. This followed the official Apology day of 1998, and PM Costello, bcked by Deputy PM Lees, stated that "We will build stronger bridges between Aboriginal Australians and the wider Australian community, for we truly believe that we are one nation, with a rich, diverse history and peoples". This coincided with Corroboree 2000, Corroboree being the Aboriginal word for celebration, taking place at the Sydney Opera House, marking the achievements in land rights legislation in the past decade, particularly land rights legislation and stopping the Hindmarsh Bridge.

Inflation and unemployment were both low by this point, particularly with the dot.com bubble, which although would fizzle out shortly, had provided an additional boost to the Australian economy. Nothing could lift national pride like the Olympics though, and the Sydney Olympics, held between the 15th of September and 1st of October, was perhaps the pinnacle of the year for many Australians. Along with the outgoing International Olympic Committee President, Juan Antonio Samaranch, calling them the "best Olympics ever", Australia came fourth in the medal tally, behind the US, Russia and China, with 16 gold, 25 silver and 17 bronze.

With the Olympics passed, legislation to cut the number of Senators from 100 to 76 was introduced in October 2000. While Labor and Natural Law opposed the measures, this was one of the agreements in the document that formed the Government, so while a couple of Democrats went against the party, this still passed easily, and would be "gradually downgraded" at the next two elections, much like when the Senate was increased to 100 members.

2001 came with a big bang, with the Centenary of Federation celebrations. Schools around Australia would partake in an extensive history course, and a massive ceremony was held at Uluru, otherwise known as Ayers Rock, to kick off the celebrations. Ansett, one of the longstanding airlines of Australia, went into administration, and PM Costello stated that “Ansett will need to weather the economy, like any free enterprise should”. Opposition leader Kim Beazley hit back with “You are playing a terrible game with the hands of everyday Australians”. This continued into a heated argument, amidst the background of a piece of legislation enabling New Zealanders to live, work and study in Australia without a visa, which passed both chambers easily.

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

September 11, 2001, or the day the world stopped turning, shocked virtually everyone on the planet, and tough security measures began to be drafted. This followed a boatload of people, claiming to seek asylum, arriving a month after the MV Tampa incident, involving the Norwegian freighter of the same name, when the government, after a heated debate, allowed a freighter carrying in asylum applicants for processing in Australian waters, namely on Christmas Island, this motion was particularly spearheaded by the Democrats and Natural Law. Doubts whether this method would be used for further unauthorised arrivals arose in the wake of what would be called 9/11, however.

Given the nature of the government, it was decided to keep the system of processing asylum seekers on Christmas Island, while contacting neighbours Nauru and Papua New Guinea to assist in processing boats from over that way, to increase efficiency, and to increase military presence, particularly in the wake of reports children had been tossed overboard. Airport security rules, in line with much of the rest of the world, were also significantly tightened around the same time, and ANZUS was reinforced in the wake of the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

PM Costello and Deputy PM Lees were literally at odds over sending troops to Afghanistan – Costello and most Tories supported the move, Lees and the Democrats did not. After another grueling debate, where many floor-crossings from all parties occurred, a small force of 500 people was sent to Afghanistan to assist in what would become known as the War on Terror, and PM Costello would become a regular contact and friend of US President George W. Bush, although not to the extent that Eric Harrison and Ike Eisenhower were, for example.

Ansett Airlines finally went bankrupt in March of 2002, making 3,000 employees redundant, although the government stated that Ansett was not financially viable, partly because budget airline Virgin Blue had started up in 2000. A series of nasty gang rapes occurred in January of 2002, and a tense election in South Australia saw a Democrat-Labor state government elected, ousting the Conservative-National government. The SA National Party soon merged with the SA Tories, leaving only WA as the sole state with a National Party, which re-named itself Rural Voice in 2004.

Serious droughts affected much of Australia in February of 2002, with massive crop failures, and much of the eastern seaboard being placed on water restrictions. Given the nature of the previous election, it was decided to hold the next election as late as constitutionally possible, to lessen the gap between the Senate changeover. President Keating agreed to this, and an election would be looming for late winter 2002.

An election has been called for the 15th of August, 2002.

Party platforms at this election:

Conservative Party – Prime Minister Peter Costello and the Conservative Party are campaigning on a strong national defense, strong relations with the US, Commonwealth and neighbours alike, a commitment to Australia’s asylum seeker intake, with a proposed increase in numbers, while maintaining a secure border, removing restrictions and red tape, particularly on industry and power generation, their record of keeping the peace in East Timor , and the general free-market policies of years gone by. The Conservatives' 2002 slogan is "Look Out For Yourself, Look Out for Australia"

Australian Democrats – Deputy Prime Minister Meg Lees and the Democrats are running on their tenure in government, their record of ensuring asylum seekers are treated fairly, support for indigenous reconciliation, and continued investment in the Internet. Lees has stated that she is open to negotiation with both the Conservatives and Labour, should there be another hung Parliament. Lees is also critical of military involvement in Afghanistan, stating disapproval of another foreign war, ala Vietnam. The Democrats' 2002 slogan is "Say No to Prejudice".

Labor Party – Opposition Leader Kim Beazley and Labor are running on a similar asylum policy to the Conservatives, offering monetary support to companies at risk, such as Ansett Airlines, raising taxes on mineral production, and diplomatic support over military action in Afghanistan, along with lowering military presence when dealing with asylum seekers. Labor's slogan for 2002 is "A Fair Go for All".

Natural Law Party - Kerry Nettle and the Natural Law Party are campaigning on a re-assessment of ANZUS, a withdrawal from Afghanistan, removing restrictions on asylum seeking, increasing regulations on energy production and consumption, an increase in the national petrol tax, and a tax on carbon dioxide emissions. Natural Law's 2002 slogan is "For Peace and Protection, Natural Law is the Answer".

Patriotic Front – Pauline Hanson and the Patriotic Front are running on an end of all asylum seeker applications, withdrawal from the UN severe immigration restrictions, particularly from Islamic nations, and a commitment to taking out troops from Afghanistan, Hanson saying “The military is needed here to save Australia being swamped”. The Patriotic Front's 2002 slogan is "Never Hide Your Pride".

Anticapitalist Alliance – Lee Rhiannon and the Anticapitalist Alliance are running on a platform of abolishing ANZUS, withdrawing Australia from the UN, claiming it is “too elitist”, a 95% top tax rate, and disbanding the Australian military. The Anticapitalist Alliance’s 2002 slogan is “Join the Real Forces”, in a move with angered the Australian armed forces, and most of the general public.

Voting is open for 72 hours.

Me: Conservative now, Conservative forever.

[TNF]

Anticapitalist Alliance.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Can't decide between the Democrats and Natural Law. Leaning towards Natural Law.

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

Can't decide between the Democrats and Natural Law. Leaning towards Natural Law.

Natural Law is basically this TL's version of the Australian Greens, while the Democrats don't support the war, as I mentioned in my post, a number of floor crossings occurred when a vote to send troops to Afghanistan occurred.

So Natural Law are more anti-war than the Democrats, if that answers your question.

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

Bump.

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

Final bump, with a note that voting will be open until the poll naturally expires.

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

Voting is closed, next entry will be up within a week.