Category: News

Consumer insights consultancy BrandHook has conducted a timely study into the voting habits of Australians and discovered that the number of people likely to be casting an informal vote at next week’s ballot is the highest in recorded history. An informal vote is a ballot paper which has been incorrectly completed or not filled in at all.

The BrandHook study shows 6.4% of Australians are planning on casting an informal vote next Saturday. According to the AEC, the previous record for informal votes was 6.3% in 1984, the year substantial and confusing changes were made to the ballot papers.

Paul Dixon, Partner at BrandHook says the political turmoil of the past few years has helped create this situation.

“We have done a lot of work into understanding people’s habits and how habit drives almost half of people’s daily routines. Voting is no exception – it’s a habitual behaviour. The current political landscape has led to people breaking their voting habits,” he said.

Given the high levels of informal voting predicted for this election, politicians need to remind people of their party’s traditional political values – a habit they have compromised in more recent elections. This is borne out by the fact that the 2010 election, soon after the displacement of Kevin Rudd as leader of the ALP, had the second highest recorded level of informal voting – according to the AEC, it was 5.5%.

“This election could be won by the party who convinces people to go back to their old voting habits. In order to do that, they need to remind voters why they used to feel comfortable voting on autopilot.

“Tony Abbott and Kevin Rudd have one week to convince people to move away from voting informally. The current personal attacks are just clouding the issue for voters, not giving them clarity about the essence of the party,” said Dixon.

The research also revealed 37% of Australians would probably choose not to vote if voting became optional. This was highest amongst the younger age groups: 18-24 year olds (52%), 25-34 (48%). This lack of interest could have longer-term ramifications for political parties – the young people of Australia are in danger of never forming a political alliance, and therefore a voting habit.

About the BrandHook study

BrandHook conducted the Voting Habit Study in August 2013 with a nationally representative sample of 1,280 Australians 18+. They were asked:

“How likely are you to vote informally in the upcoming election?”

“If voting wasn’t compulsory in Australia, would you vote in the Federal Election on September 7?”

Please note: Many respondents in the research groups confused ‘informal voting’ with ‘donkey voting’. Once the difference was explained, only those intending to legally fill in their ballot paper were counted towards the survey results.

There are eleven candidates standing for election to the House of Representatives in the Queensland division of Griffith, and the polls are getting tight

Many will be watching Griffith because Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is, of course, the sitting member, with the LNP’s Dr Bill Glasson his main contender.

Mr Rudd’s office has politely declined my request for an interview, but Dr Glasson’s office has not responded to several requests.

But the minor parties have had no problem talking to me.

Here are links to my pieces on each of the candidates I spoke to.

Redistribute the wealth – Liam Flenady – Socialist Alliance

The Churches should pay their way – Anne Reid – Secular Party

The world’s problem is population – Jan McNichol – Stable Population Party

 

Griffith’s PUP is a Hunter – Palmer United Party – Karin Hunter

Katter invokes country Labor – Luke Murray – Katter Australia Party

Gays and muslims cause global warming – Sherri Church – Rise Up Australia

Many of the minor parties seem to be using the election as a platform for their policies and a way to raise their profile in this division. The rise of single-issue parties may also be a symptom of voter disillusionment with the major parties. It will be interesting to see if this translates into votes for some of them on Election Day.

Seven Over Our Dead Bodies environmental activists began their hunger strike to protest the planned development of a coal complex in the Galilee Basin outside Aurizon on Eagle Street in Brisbane CBD today.

The theme of the hunger strike is Carbon Bomb and the protest at Eagle Street was marked by Former Australian Senator Andrew Bartlett stealing the Carbon Bomb from Aurizon.

The group is targeting Aurizon’s plan to develop the largest coal complex in the world in the Galilee Basin in Central Queensland by providing financial capital to the debt-ridden Indian company GVK to develop the first three mines.

Generation Alpha founder Ben Pennings said Aurizon has ignored pleas from groups like Greenpeace, Get Up, Avazz, Friends of The Earth and the Australian Conservation Foundation.

“We are doing this to engage the environmental movement and beyond about the issue and get them more active,” Mr Penning said.

Mr Bartlett said in a press release the coal mine at Galilee Basin will produce over 700 million tons of carbon emissions each year.

“[That is] more than the total emissions Australia, the UK or Canada [produce yearly],” Mr Bartlett said.

Lauren Granger-Brown said she is committed to the hunger strike.

“How long is a piece of string,” Ms Granger-Brown said when asked for how long she will hunger strike.

Over Our Dead Bodies will continue their hunger strike at a shop front at 969 Ann Street in Fortitude Valley, which will serve as their headquarters.

For more info about Over Our Dead Bodies, you can visit their website: www.OverOurDeadBodies.net

“Where will this madness end?”, asks Wildlife Queensland.

On 20th August the Hon S.L. Dickson, Minister for National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing introduced the Nature Conservation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill (No2) 2013 into the House building on the already retrograde amendments to the Nature Conservation Act 1992.

‘When drafted in 1992 the Nature Conservation Act was at the cutting edge of conservation legislation’ said Des Boyland, spokesperson for Wildlife Queensland. ‘Wildlife Queensland agrees that a review of that legislation is warranted but the current legislation needs strengthening in light of its failure to arrest the biodiversity decline. However this current Bill weakens the purpose of the 1992 Act and sets conservation in Queensland back decades.’

Wildlife Queensland wonders where and when will this madness end. The national park estate is about 4.8% of Queensland well below international recognised desirable standards and certainly below the average in the various Australian States and Territories.

‘Today the primary purpose of national parks is to afford protection to and conserve our natural heritage, landscape and cultural heritage. A secondary purpose is to allow people to commune with and interact with nature in passive ways’states Boyland. ‘This well established management principle has been guiding management of national parks not only in Queensland. Even in the halcyon development days of the Bjelke-Petersen Government national parks served their primary purpose and were not exploited to service the State’s debts now a prime purpose according to Minister Dickson.’

In his speech to the Legislative Assembly, Minister Dickson indicated that the Bill will result in the most significant changes as to how national parks will be managed. The prime purpose is no longer conservation of wildlife but the object of the Act is being expanded. The number of tenures will be drastically reduced.

‘It is claimed that the cardinal principle of management, that is a national park is managed to the greatest possible extent for the permanent preservation of the areas natural condition, has not changed. Yet in the same breath the Minister states management principles have been broadened’ states Boyland. ‘These statements negate one another. Other retrograde changes will result in the passing of this Bill.’

The Hon Steve Dickson is reported as stating that ‘Unashamedly I am looking to make money out of this’ referring to throwing national parks open to developers and tourist operators.

‘The Minister is certainly not making money out of the national parks as cow paddocks as $0. 5M of taxpayers money has been or is being spent on fences to keep stock in national parks’ said Boyland. ‘It is Wildlife Queensland’s understanding that there is no agistment being collected and if the arrangements are for only short term why are some graziers spending significant sums, up to $20 000, in providing waters to some holdings.’

Wildlife Queensland is well aware that sectors of the grazing industry have been lobbying Governments for years to open up national parks for grazing. It appears that we are well past the thin edge of the wedge in having grazing in national parks on a permanent basis.

‘This is not the only threat’ states Boyland. ‘These areas were set aside to protect our biodiversity now will be adventure sites for four wheel drivers, quad bike, horse riders and the latest recreational attraction side-by-side all terrain vehicles for Moreton Island. Lord help our bird life on Moreton.’

‘However Wildlife Queensland fears the worst is yet to come. This State Government is attacking the environment and its wildlife on all fronts. At the Commonwealth level, the Abbott lead Coalition has promised to devolve ‘approval bilaterals’ under the EPBC Act to the States and Territories. There will be no independent umpire to rule on inappropriate developments and threats to matters of national environmental significance. Now as never before people who care must speak out against this ongoing onslaught on our environment and its wildlife,’ concludes Boyland.

 

 

Micah Projects will hold its 10th annual Moonlight Magic Dinner Dance at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on 6th September.

It is an event that lets those who are affected by isolation and loneliness to enjoy a few hours of excitement and feel a sense of belonging — being part of something big and important while having a lot of fun.

Inclusion is the main focus of the Moonlight Magic Dinner Dance.

The popularity of this event has grown so much over the years that recently the event had to be moved to the Plaza Ballroom at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Last year the event had 840 attendees and they expect even more this year.

At Micah Projects’ office in West End last week The Westender met with Resident Support Program Team Leader Mal Causer to tell us more about the Moonlight Magic Dinner Dance.

We were also invited to Campbell’s Club, where a lot of the preparation for the event is already happening.

Mal Causer told The Westender that living at a hostel can often be difficult and exclusionary due to the circumstances. As a society we still treat each other differently and judge each other on how we act and behave, without making the effort to know why someone acts a certain way.

“The really important thing is to treat everybody as if they are as smart as you, because they are,” Mal Causer said.

Campbell’s Club is a meeting place for those living at different hostels to have the opportunity to meet up and have a good time together.

Socialising is very important to those living at the different hostels, and if they move to another hostel, they often risk losing contact with their friends Mal Causer added.

“They come to Campbell’s Club — they love it and they are always welcomed,” she said.

“They have a strong sense of belonging when they are there.”

At the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Wollongabba, on top of a hill, you will find Campbell’s Club nestled in a corner. A place where they are cared for by Micah Projects’ staff and volunteers while they socialise and have a great time together.

Leading up to the event there is already a lot of excitement at the club.

Not only will they talk about it for months after they have been there, but also the weeks before the event will happen — remembering how fun they had last year at Moonlight Magic Dinner Dance.

When The Westender visited it was already the main topic of the day. It was then it became obvious how important this event is, as you could hear the excitement in their voices when you asked them if they were going and see how their faces lit up with joy talking about it.

“Hi I’m Burty,” he said, just a few minutes after we had arrived at the club. When asked, he said he was looking forward to this year’s Moonlight Magic Dinner Dance.

While I was standing there with Burty, David came up to us and introduced himself. He said he has been given the task to MC the night again — last year he did it with Nathan.

“You will be in for a good time,” David said.

Nathan said that people come from everywhere just to attend Moonlight Magic Dinner Dance. That is how popular this annual event is.

“This year I will have a good time,” Nathan said.

The most popular part of the evening is the dance. Within seconds the dance floor is full of eager participants wanting to have a good time together.

Colleen Stevenson told The Westender she had been there a few times and was looking forward to attend this year’s Moonlight Magic Dinner Dance.

“You feel like a princess going in there,” Colleen Stevenson said.

“No matter what disability they have, everybody is accepted — people love it”

To find out more about this year’s Moonlight Magic Dinner Dance you can visit Micah Projects and download their e-invite [pdf].

Economist and scientist Dr Tan Sri Lin See-Yan (Dr Lin) examines the economic impacts of the long term shrinkage of the world population.

European countries, Australia, Taiwan and Japan for many years have been relying on immigration to maintain their population, China will stop growing by 2030 and India by 2050. Dr Lin busts many population myths and examines the economic impact of demographics.

Prepare to be surprised.

One unexpected fact brought to light in the article is that the USA is alone among the world’s major nations in having increased its fertility rate in recent years. Where as all the other developed nations have had declining birth rates for decades and have not replaced their population since the seventies or eighties, the USA reversed this trend in the eighties and now has a birth rate higher than its death rate.

If this continues, Dr Lin argues, this means that it will have a significant economic advantage in the second half of this century.

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