MJ's little flock

[RoyalChick]

I've done this for the last few elections as the major parties are not representative of my views @ all. It has been depressing watching my choice pass preferences on to one of the major parties so I was thrilled to see the Independents win so many seats this time. Keep the B@*~#@s honest, I say.

Just making sure I understand, does that mean Australia uses a single transferable vote system? That means you put everyone in preference order and your vote moves down the list as it were.
Is that how it works?

 

[RoyalChick]

That's a good way to do it. Your elections are on Tuesdays, aren't they? With postal votes people can work and vote instead of missing out on one or the other.

Yes. I originally registered because I travelled a lot. Not so relevant now but still useful.

 

[MaryJanet]

Today i installed a magnetic door closer on the funrun for those times when my hands are too full to work the catch.

It seems to work quite well, although it is for use indoors so I don't expect it to stay shiney for very long.

And I tied another potential sparrow superhighway closed. I've been using venetian blind cord because it's quite sturdy but still narrow. I do the weaving part of the operation with a mid-sized curved upholstery needle. I think my stitching has improved greatly.

Spoiler: Old "stitching"

A bit of a dog's breakfast.

Spoiler: Today's effort

Somewhat neater.

 

[MaryJanet]

Just making sure I understand, does that mean Australia uses a single transferable vote system? That means you put everyone in preference order and your vote moves down the list as it were.
Is that how it works?

Yes.

If your first preference does not get elected, your full vote is counted towards your second preference. And so on, until either one of your preferences gets elected or your preferences are exhausted (you only have to put 6 to make a valid vote).

We used to be able to delegate our party of choice to choose our preferences for us. I think that's what Ribh is describing.

 

[MaryJanet]

Covid made a bit of a mess as they were having trouble getting workers to man rural booths & some townships were facing long drives to vote. I would guess postal voting is always an option if you register in time.

It's a shame the Electoral Commission wasn't better prepared to serve those voters.

 

[RoyalChick]

Today i installed a magnetic door closer on the funrun for those times when my hands are too full to work the catch.

It seems to work quite well, although it is for use indoors so I don't expect it to stay shiney for very long.

View attachment 3118097

And I tied another potential sparrow superhighway closed. I've been using venetian blind cord because it's quite sturdy but still narrow. I do the weaving part of the operation with a mid-sized curved upholstery needle. I think my stitching has improved greatly.

Spoiler: Old "stitching"

A bit of a dog's breakfast.
View attachment 3118108

Spoiler: Today's effort

Somewhat neater.
View attachment 3118110

Nice job! So funny, I had imagined the sparrow super highways were at ground level. No idea why I thought that!

 

[MaryJanet]

Nice job! So funny, I had imagined the sparrow super highways were at ground level. No idea why I thought that!

There were plenty at ground level, but at this time it seems I've blocked the ground level ones off to such an extent the sparrow (singular, so it's more of a country lane than a superhighway) is preferring to wiggle between layers of wire mesh where they don't meet very well.

Former superhighway:

 

[MaryJanet]

@RoyalChick i should also explain that we fill in two ballots. One for the senate and one for the house of reps. The house of reps is where the governing party sits and the senate provides oversight. If the party who won the house of reps also won the senate, it reduces the effectiveness of the senate which performs little more than rubber stamping. In media parlance, such an electoral outcome is called a mandate. In terms of adequate debate and representation of diverse views, a mandate is not desirable.

In terms of what voters write on their ballots, the aec provides the best explanation: house of reps (we number all the candidates) and senate (the minimum viable vote is numbering 6 parties and the maximum viable vote is numbering every individual candidate).

 

[MaryJanet]

I've just recalled uncle frank used to vote labor in the house and libs in the senate in the hope of avoiding a mandate. He's long dead now but he was a sensible sort of chap (of course, he was voting long before any of today's issues arose).

 

[MaryJanet]

This turn of phrase made me chuckle.

As Australians always vote on a Saturday and voting is compulsory, there is always high voter turnout for both state and federal elections.

I imagine turnout is good if it is "compulsory".

Yeh, turnout is not a useful measure in Australia

Although there would be people whose job it is to characterise those who didn't get their name crossed off and why.