Queensland Government's Discussion Paper on Compulsory Voting Sparks Political Row

Strategic Insights -

The Queensland government's recent discussion paper on planned electoral reforms has reignited the debate on compulsory voting in Australia. The paper, which asks whether the state should end nearly a century of mandatory voting, has been met with intense criticism from the federal Labor government. Prime Minister Julia Gillard accused the Liberal Party of trying to make democracy "the plaything of cashed-up interest groups," while federal Treasurer Wayne Swan compared the move to the corruption-plagued Joh Bjelke-Petersen era in Queensland.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Queensland government's discussion paper on electoral reforms includes a section on whether the state should end compulsory voting, a move that has been met with criticism from the federal Labor government.
  • Prime Minister Julia Gillard accused the Liberal Party of trying to make democracy "the plaything of cashed-up interest groups" by ending compulsory voting.
  • Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan compared the move to the corruption-plagued Joh Bjelke-Petersen era in Queensland and to the US Tea Party movement.
  • The Queensland government has not reached a position on compulsory voting, and the discussion paper only asks the public to consult on the issue.
  • A Coalition-dominated federal parliamentary inquiry into the 1996 federal election called for a repeal of compulsory voting, arguing that Australia could not otherwise "consider itself a mature democracy."
  • The Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Eric Abetz, said he favoured an end to compulsory voting due to "personal liberty issues," but that federal Coalition policy was to keep it.
  • The opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman, Julie Bishop, has also written in support of voluntary voting, as has the parliamentary secretary for families, Jamie Briggs.
  • Compulsory voting has been in place in Australia for nearly a century, but the fine for not voting is only $20.
  • Most comparable countries, including the US, Britain, Canada, and New Zealand, have voluntary voting.
  • The acting leader of the Greens, Adam Bandt, said compulsory voting forces people to think about who should govern them, and that abolishing it would make Australia's electoral system more like America's.

Statistics:

  • 14,000 jobs have been shed in Queensland's public service, leading to concerns that the state government is trying to dampen voter dissent.
  • $250,000 was raised at a slush fund-raiser for the Australian Workers Union that Prime Minister Julia Gillard attended in 2008.
  • 18 is the age at which Australians are required to vote.
  • $20 is the fine for not voting in Australia.
  • 1 century has nearly passed since compulsory voting was introduced in Australia.

Sources:

  • THE Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has accused the Liberal Party of trying to make democracy "the plaything of cashed-up interest groups" after the Queensland government opened the door to the abolition of compulsory voting. (The Sydney Morning Herald)
  • The federal Treasurer, Wayne Swan, also lashed out at the paper, comparing the move to the corruption-plagued Joh Bjelke-Petersen era in Queensland, and to the US Tea Party movement. (The Sydney Morning Herald)
  • The Queensland Attorney-General, Jarrod Bleijie, who released the discussion paper on Thursday, said the state government had not reached any position on compulsory voting. (The Sydney Morning Herald)
  • The parliamentary secretary for families, Jamie Briggs, has also written in support of voluntary voting. (The Sydney Morning Herald)