After around 17 days, we finally have a new government in Australia. The three Independents at last made their decision. Bob Katter wisely stayed true to his roots and went with the Coalition while the other 2 Indies went with Labor, thus giving Julia Gillard the 76 seats she needed to form government.
There is much that can be said about this result. It tells us much about so-called Independents showing us their true colours. It tells us about an electoral system which can frustrate the will of the majority. And it tells us that plenty of instability and uncertainty lies ahead.
That the two Independents effectively betrayed their electorates and robbed the Australian people of their preferred party is a great cause of concern. Both have shown their real allegiances by siding with Labor. Recall that in Windsor’s seat, New England, only 8 per cent of the vote went to Labor. And in Oakeshott’s seat of Lyne, Labor received only 13 per cent. So why in the world did these two side with Labor?
The two actually spilled the beans on this. Windsor gave his reasons as to why he went with Labor. He said if he went with the Coalition, Abbott was more likely to return early to the polls, and” I think he would win”. But Labor, he said, “are more likely to be here for a longer period of time if they can’t go back to the polls in a hurry”.
And Oakeshott, who is already now looking for a cabinet position in the Gillard Government, said Labor had “got more to lose” from an election. As Andrew Bolt remarks, “That’s right: the independents had just admitted they were foisting on voters the party most did not want. And it’s true. Labor won fewer votes, fewer seats of its own and less of the two-party preferred vote.”
Or as Janet Albrechtsen put it, “It’s a novel theory of democracy, almost as brazen as Stalin’s theory that it’s not the people who vote that count. It’s the people who count the votes.”
The raging ego of these two Independents has been on full display in the past few weeks, and we will only get more of it in the months ahead. Power-hungry Labor-stooges seems about the kindest thing we can say about the pair. They will certainly not be treated well by their electorate the next time around, following this appalling betrayal.
Indeed, it is a sad day for democracy when 700,000 more votes go to the losing party. In fact, this has been an exceptional result. Julia Gillard is the only Australian Prime Minister to twice win the top job without the majority of Australians voting for her.
And the idea that somehow this deal will result in stable, enduring government is a pipedream. Not only is Labor racked with internal divisions, hatreds and factionalism, but working now with the even fruitier Greens, and some erratic Independents, will be a disaster in the making.
It may be unlikely indeed that this non-democratically elected government will last a full three years. And when the next election does take place, it may well spell disaster for this outfit. Says Albrechtsen, “Voters must surely be thinking one thing: bring on that next election. On that score, Tony Abbott should be clear that the election campaign has begun. The last election was a sham, thanks to the independents. Windsor and Oakeshott now own the Gillard-Green government. They will be held accountable for their undemocratic decision today and the decisions made by Gillard and the Greens in the future.”
Or as Bolt remarked, “An early election is yet possible, and the demand for one may become irresistible. If it does, it can only be because this Government is seen as one without a mandate. As one that’s merely bartered its way into power with men deaf to the wishes of voters, but not to the siren of their own ambition. As one that’s proved to be as inept, still, as it seems illegitimate now. Already the next election for Labor threatens to be a greater disaster than the last. So Abbott may cry today, but will relish tomorrow.”
Spiritually speaking
As to some biblical reflections, several things can be noted. My take on this election all along has been that if the Coalition would get in, we will have simply received God’s mercy. But if the Labor-Green machine got in, we would have got what we deserve – God’s justice. Now we will have our most leftist and secular government ever.
Scripture makes it quite clear that “righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Prov. 13:34). That plenty of big-ticket sins will be high on the agenda is already clear. Julia is perhaps our most pro-abortion PM ever, and Green’s leader Bob Brown has already said that same-sex marriage will lead his list of demands.
When you have a direct assault of some of God’s most pressing concerns, the right to life, and the institutions of marriage and family, then it is hard indeed to get much righteousness in circulation. And the religious left can spare us their mantra of social justice.
When we allow 100,000 unborn babies to be slaughtered each year, there is certainly no social justice there. Indeed, it is the height of unrighteousness and ungodliness. And that we will have in abundance with two hard-core atheists now ruling our land.
Scripture speaks much about the importance of having wise rulers. Yet with two atheists at the helm, we now have a nation run by a couple of fools (God’s verdict: Psalm 14:1; 53:1; Romans 1:21-23). We can certainly continue to pray for our leaders, as we are exhorted to do (1 Tim. 2:1-2). And recall that the outcome of those prayers is to live lives “in all godliness and holiness”.
That will certainly become much harder under this secular-left regime. Indeed, to seek to do so in the public arena will mean increasingly to face the wrath of the powers that be. More and more anti-Christian legislation will now be passed under the Labor-Green machine, with hate crime laws and other nefarious bills much more likely to now be introduced and passed.
Thus we will need to pray more and seek God more than ever before. Things may well get much worse before they get better. Persecution of true believers is now even more likely under this new ungodly regime. Be forewarned – biblical Christians are now under greater threat than in any other recent time in Australian history.
It is said that we get the government that we deserve. Australia is certainly overripe for God’s judgment. We may well have gotten what we deserve from God. But we can still bear in mind the words of Habakkuk 3:2: “In your wrath remember mercy”.
We deserve his justice and his judgment, and this election outcome may well be part of that. But we can still plead for his mercy. And we need to pray that more than ever, a carnal, apathetic and sleeping church will finally wake up and start acting as the salt and light it was always meant to be.
We also need to bear in mind that it is ultimately God who is in charge of the nations. None will last forever. They are there for a short period of time, and God can quickly and decisively move to change the state of play here. Indeed, recall passages such as the following:
“God drags away the mighty by his power; though they become established, they have no assurance of life. He may let them rest in a feeling of security, but his eyes are on their ways. For a little while they are exalted, and then they are gone; they are brought low and gathered up like all others; they are cut off like heads of grain.” (Job 24:22-24).
Keep praying. Keep seeking God. And keep his eternal purposes in mind. We need not wallow in despair here. Sure, we can grieve with godly grief for this downward turn of events. But God will have the last word on all this. After all, the governments rest upon his shoulders.
So now is not the time to despair or give up. Now is the time to redouble our efforts, and seek to see righteousness in fact exalt this nation.
Thank you for this wonderful message, Bill. Your writing never fails to move the Spirit in me, to inspire/convict me. ‘May you immediately be inscribed and sealed for a Good Year, and for a Good and Peaceful Life.” Shana Tova!
Kenya Lee Lowther
Surprise, surprise. Oakeshott is a big lefty. Here are some snapshots from his website from Oz Conservative;
‘Along with a Labor MP (Graham Perrett MP) and a Greens MP (Senator Sarah Hanson-Young) I have helped re-establish the Parliamentarians Amnesty International Group … I am also currently serving as the Australian Parliamentary Representative on the all-male … Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Group of the United Nations Development Program that is working on strategies to minimise violence against women and girls within the region – from a male perspective. This has come about due to my involvement as a White Ribbon Ambassador within Australia … and a belief that it is men who have to “man up” on matters in relation to domestic violence.’
‘White Ribbon day’ is also politically motivated as it ignores domestic violence against men.
and…
‘And specifically on immigration policy, I know there are many people who worry about issues in relation to asylum seekers, refugees, ‘illegal’ immigrants, ‘boat people’, or whatever descriptor you might currently be using. Being a recipient of most emails on this topic, and listening closely to ‘street-talk’, I am aware of a lot of incorrect information that is making its way into people’s ‘in-boxes’ on their computers, or is being sold as fact in the local pub.
I genuinely ask anyone who wants to get to the bottom of this challenging policy area, to contact our office … for detailed information that might help with personal views. We have a number of factual resources that can help clarify a lot of the language used in this policy area (there really is no such thing as an ‘illegal immigrant’, or a ‘boat person’, for example), the true statistics, and the options that all policy-makers from all political persuasions are wrestling with.’
Bill, while much is made of the pattern of votes cast, we need to remember that our electoral system is based on electorates smaller than the entire nation.
Thus the result is constitutionally valid, and it is only that key figures (such as the caretaker PM) who initially pinned their hopes on the massed votes going a certain way, that have brought the overall picture into view.
We have had many elections at State and Federal levels where the total votes cast for the major parties did not reflect the actual returns of seats in the Parliament.
Sometimes the cry of “gerrymander” has been heard, but not too often lately, as both parties realise that closely fought marginal seat contests will always yield such results.
On the Biblical side, I note that earlier in Habakkuk, God had warned him “Watch carefully – you will be gob-smacked at how I am going to judge My people”.
It may yet happen again. But God told the people thrugh Jeremiah to “build houses, plant vineyards” in the land of exile, and bless that nation with their presence. Be about Kingdom activities as well as earthly responsibilities.
John Angelico
Now, now.
We’ve got to accept the way the electoral system works. Numerous other Governments have won on a minority of the 2PP vote — eg. Hawke in 1990, Howard in 1998. George W Bush won the 2000 US presidential election despite losing the popular vote to Al Gore. So can’t make too much of the 2PP vote.
Likewise the primary vote. It’s number of seats that ultimately matters in our system, not who won the primary vote. Would we prefer proportional representation? That would mean a lower house full of Greens as well. No thanks. Maybe FPTP might work, but that’s an untested system here.
Windsor and Oakeshott have guaranteed that they will not block supply, and that they will support the Government in confidence votes. That’s all. They are not likely to support wasteful, debt-creating Labor policy. Neither are they likely to support loopy private members bills from Adam Bandt. It isn’t all bad.
Would an Abbott govt. be any more stable or effective? I don’t think so. Not if they need to get everything past Crook, Wilkie, Windsor, Oakeshott, and 9 communist senators. He’d be just as hamstrung as Julia is (if not more).
Jereth Kok
Thanks Jereth
I am afraid I am nowhere near as sanguine about all this as you are!
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Don’t get me wrong — I’m not overjoyed about this. I’m quite fearful that we’ll have gay marriage some time in the next 24 months, that Christian school funding will be threatened, etc.
But I’m quite sure of the fact that Gillard’s government will be very fragile over the next 3 years. I get the impression that Wilkie, Oakshott and Windsor are unpredictable mavericks. They clearly enjoy the taste of power and attention they’ve received in the last 2 weeks (as you’ve noted!) and that won’t continue if they just toe the Labor line.
Look how badly Rudd did even with his wave of messianism in 2007. Gillard is off to a much worse start so I wouldn’t bet on her success. I think it will be quite entertaining, for instance, watching the upcoming ALP vs. Green cagefight over carbon emissions policy!
Jereth Kok
Thanks Jereth
I am mostly with you – but I would say 12 months is much more realistic on SSM, unless the church radically gets its act together, and various Christian leaders and groups stop compromising on the homosexuality issue.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Don’t understand your 700,000 figure Bill. The ALP is leading on two-party preferred by about 1200 votes at present. If you based it on first preferences, the ALP/Green count is about 800,000 ahead of the Coalition. And in any case, as others have pointed out, the only thing that counts when forming government is votes on the floor of the House.
There are so many variables and different interests in the mix now that we can’t be sure how things will pan out. It’s new territory for Australia and should make for a very interesting period of government. One good thing that will come out of this is that the Australian people might take a keener interest in politics because the boredom of the two-party system is no longer there.
Bill Sayers, Tamworth
Thanks Bill
I refer of course to the primary vote.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Bill, Tony Abbott may yet be laughing. As comments have indicated, the alliance is fragile. If it falls apart after a while, the indies might go with Abbott – depending on the circumstances – rather than force an election. Then the Coalition might have a more stable grouping if experience in the present framework teaches any lessons. Yes I know, a lot of ifs and mights in that …
Graham Keen, Malawi
Witness Gerard Jackson shred the economic lunacy of Bob Brown and the deceitfully named Greens party in ‘The Greens’ Policies would Destroy the Australian Economy’;
In a letter to The Australian (27 June 1991) he revealed his appalling economic illiteracy by defining logging and mining as “resource robbery”. According to this brilliant economic theorist and economic historian Tasmania is an example of a “post-industrial” society (despite the fact that the state had never been industrialized) because the economy “is not based on dinosaur industries like pulp mills, zinc mills and aluminium mills.” (Italics added.)
It completely escaped the attention of this genius that without pulp mills there would be no paper, and certainly no newspapers to promote his lunacy, The same man who uses numerous electrical appliances, drives a car, travels by train, ship and plane, uses computers and cell phones is the same man who seriously asserts that — what he sneeringly calls — the “extraction industries” that supply the raw materials for these devices can be shut down without lowing wages and raising the unemployment rate.
Critics rightly point out the massive cost in terms of lost export earnings if Brown’s lunatic policies were implemented. But they miss a vital point: these industries are at the very highest stage of the capital structure. This means closing them down would also close down manufacturing because their products are vital inputs for the lower stages of production that produce capital goods, intermediate goods and consumer goods?
The issue is not whether it looks like democracy in action, or if we got what we were after or whether the Coalition would have provided more stable government. On the last point it is quite obvious that the Independents would have been a throrn in the side of their Government. The issue is private members bills which Oakshotte and Wilson has given priority to. This will mean that the Greens and Adam Bandt are able to introduce private members bills, which lefties will currently be working furiously on. The PM, if it was Abbott, would have been able to short-circuit these bills. However Gillard and the Labor will likely give the floor to these reformists, and it seems likely that both the Independents will ride merrily along with them.
Sitting back and waiting for the inevitable ‘split’ is not good enough. These Independents need to be held accountable for putting a countries values and moral judgement at risk from a Government that it is clear did not have the mandate. It needs to happen within their Electorates, and it needs to occur from the ground-up, this point needs to be driven home.
Andrew Goodwin
So Tony Abbott would have been the saviour of Australia.
We need to pray for BOTH sides of politics, for godly people to have the courage to stand up to blatantly ungodly policies. The Christian voice also has to be stronger and more vocal – but that voice does not have to be tinged with political bias. Im a ‘born again Christian’ not a ‘born again conservative’. By the way, Tony Abbott did state he would not make policies based on his religious convictions. The Gay lobby is very strong and intimidating look at what happened to Stephanie Rice. Scripute also says what business is it to judge those outside the church, we need God’s wisdom to be effective.
Angie Volmensky
Its certainly the time for many minor party’s such as CDP and Family First to go harder and get more organized for another election.
Greatly concerned for moral issues now though (homosexual liberties, euthanasia, stem cell research, abortion) they will have little contest in the Parliment with our new government.
Just on another note here, it was so interesting to see lots of politicians talking about a government that can work to form consensus on issues, when what they are really stating is ‘we need to have a government that will vote for my policies without giving me any trouble’. The democratic system is setup to debate and fight respectfully and passionately about what a party or person believes in to replace going to war against one another for it! it would seem that people dont understand that civil wars over elections happen as a result of not having a robust and aggressive allowance and tolerance for debate in politics. Adam Bandt of the Greens party said ‘we need a lot more love’ what he is really saying is ‘I dont want to see people arguing’ yet he himself is doing just that!?!?!? as is Bob Brown and everyone else, Parliment is a place where people express what they passionately believe in and all this rhetoric talk from the two independants, the greens and labour is a guise for ‘vote for my policies without debating them’.
Dorian Ballard
Almost as soon as Kevin ’07 was elected, Bob Brown sought to overturn the Andrews measure, introduced by the Howard government, which prohibited Euthanasia in the Territories. To his credit, Rudd never allowed the Bill to be debated. My guess is that in July next year, Euthanasia will be the first cab off the rank.
As for SSM, there are more than enough trendies in the Coalition who would ensure that it was carried; rather like the Act for cloning and embryonic stem-cell research some years ago.
Dunstan Hartley
Thanks Angie
But where did I say Abbott would be saviour? It should be clear by now from my many writings that he would have been a far less bad leader, which is about all we can expect in a fallen world. And of course all sides need prayer.
And with all due respect, while you insist on being just a mere believer without any political bias, all of your comments here so far have betrayed that you seem to be a born-again leftist. That is fine if that is where you stand, but pretending to be totally free of any political bias, while judging others for their stance, seems a bit disingenuous.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Good article Bill. As Washington Phillips the black preacher blues singer said. “We need a lot more Jesus and a lot less rock and roll.” Politics is a dirty business at the best of times and thats not to say we shouldn’t have christians involved. The answer is still to be found when the people of God get on there Knees. 2 Chronicles 7:14. Julia Gillard or Tony Abbott are not Australias salvation but Jesus Christ is. Our job is to pray for them both. God can use them for his purposes and I have a sneaking suspicion he is up to something.
Warwick Marsh
Liberal party legalised abortion in Western Australia, John Howard legalised discrimination based on age in his private healthcare bill. Liberal party has a policy of privatisation of healthcare. People chose to be gay, people chose to have abortions. People dont chose to be sick. If tony abbott would have stepped up to the plate on healthcare the electon result may have been different.
churches need to stop signing the governments paper when they marry people. divorces need to be issued by the church. Christians need to separate their marriages from the government. If the church had not made this unholy union then the government would not have the power to change what has been for thousands of years. All Christian celebrates need to rip up their government apostate qualifications, and start marrying a man and a woman under the umbrella of GOD and stop sticking the government inbetween. One only needs to look at the figures of Christian divorce to see it isn’t working.
In the end I still think a Christian should vote for the sick and vulnerable.
Perhaps the family first party needs to start being the sick, elderly, vulnerable and family first party.
they can then appeal to a broader base of voters, and surely a Christian conscience would be moved to vote for them.
Russell Boden
“Its certainly the time for many minor party’s such as CDP and Family First to go harder and get more organized for another election.”
It’s interesting to look at these results. FF does well in Vic, Qld and SA, CDP in NSW, DLP in VIC.
It seems probable that the 3-way split in the Christian vote is detrimental to the cause. Not least because funding (and therefore campaign strategy and resources) are also split 3 ways. But given the history of these 3 parties it also seems unlikely that they will be able to put aside their differences to form a unified Christian party. I could be wrong of course; a turn of events like the introduction of gay marriage could provide sufficient impetus. I suspect that in the long run a unified Christian party could attract 5% of the vote nationwide and obtain up to 2 or even 3 Senate seats if preferences work in their favour.
Jereth Kok
D. Ballard wrote “Its certainly the time for many minor party’s such as CDP and Family First to go harder and get more organized for another election.”
Good idea.
Hope you are already a member of such a party or will join imminently.
Graeme Cumming
Good one Bill. I have found from my long experience in the media, that when I come across someone who says they are “neutral in politics, but” —they are invariably from the far Left. They are attempting to boost their argument by pretending they are impartial and have thought both sides of the debate through.I remember when I was a member of a tennis club in Central Queensland, there was a woman there sounding out against Sir Joh Bjelke Petersen, while everyone one of the tennis champs wanted to play tennis. Finally, when this woman stopped to take a breath, she said “Anyway, this time we’re going to vote Labor”. To which her honest to goodness 8 year old daughter declared “But Mum, we always vote Labor”. If there had been a floor and a pin available, we would have heard them meet “PING”.
Frank Bellet, Petrie Qld
Thank you Bill for your constant reminders about the slaughter of 100,000 Australian babies.each year; this will backfire on us. In so many ways we have sewn the seeds of our own destruction.
This ‘government’ is the culmination of Cultural Marxism in this nation.
You are always in our prayers.
Carolyn & Geoff Mongan
My sadness surprised me but it should not have; it has brought me to my knees.
Ilona Sturla
God doesn’t want any Labour voters in heaven?.
Why have such a narrow focus and alienate a whole section of society? The nexus between ‘right wing’ and ‘christian’ can be irritating; ‘right wingers do not have a monopoly on God so dont be so unfriendly. the gospel is not right wing propoganda, and I hate communism. A bit of fairness would be like a breath of fresh air and attract more people in the bargain. Not saying to push the left, but when is the right every criticized?
Angie Volmensky
Thanks Angie
But I am afraid that we seem to be covering the same old ground here. Where exactly did I say Labor voters are not believers? Please point this out to us all; otherwise stop with the reckless and unhelpful assertions. Likewise, where did I ever say right-wingers have a monopoly on God?
Can I make an obvious and hopefully helpful observation? If this site irritates you so much, why bother coming here? I am not holding a gun to your head! If it causes you so much indigestion, why not go to a leftist website if that would make you feel better.
I don’t expect you to agree with me, and you certainly do not have to. But if every time you send in a comment you simply do it to complain – complete with plenty of straw men thrown in – then no one is really helped or edified, and there is little point to keep going on and on with it all.
As I keep saying, we may just have to agree to disagree, and go our merry ways.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
It is a sad commentary that so many understand so little.
As an American, I fear for my country as we have a President who is an internationalist who found succor in the corrupt city of Chicago, forged thru a Pastor preaching Black Liberation Theology and whose forte is perineal electioneering leading the western world. The electorate that looses its way elects this kind of woman who will be shacking up the lodge, has a history of the polarized leftest union mindset and is so transparent yet she now sits on the highest perch. Folks look in the mirror closely you are looking at a frog in a pot is your face getting flushed? If God in His wisdom has something up His sleeve I can’t wait to see how He plays His cards cause we’re at a loss down here. The left is playing for keeps folks, wake up and smell the bean…
Steve Evans, USA
BTW Bill, love your stuff and your piece abt Judge Walker, hit the sweet spot for me. The revisionism is happening as we sip our lattes in Seattle or flat whites in Melbourne, and we see nothing. It is blatant what the “progressives” are doing internationally but they have found an incredible foothold in the states and a whole lot of “useful Idiots” to carry there backpacks these days. Where are the visionaries when you need them? We are wanting in our spiritual camp because we have no leaders, everyone is pulling in different directions.
Steve Evans, USA
Many thanks Steve
Yes we both are in for rough times in our nations. You have Hussein and Hillary running the show, and we have Julia and Bob. Effectively four atheists/secular humanists are running our lands. No wonder we are in such a sad state.
We just have to work harder, pray harder, and keep fighting the good fight.
Well you know I was replying to Frank Bellett’s comments insinuating I was ‘far left” and did not mean the ‘irritation’ to be personal to you. Didn’t vote for the Labour Party or for the Liberal Party in the Federal election and I hope Fred Nile and Family First sock it to the State Labour Party as their moral base has been seriously white anted! But the Australian public can smell bias a mile away so care needs to be taken in regards to how things are framed politically. Doesn’t Darwins theory of the survival of the fittest fit more closely with the conservative/Liberal ideology? If there is a leftist christian website, that would be interesting, then there would even more of a Christian influence in society. John Hatton, Independent, is the man to watch, godly perseverance led to Royal Commission into Corruption of the Police Force and rumblings are that he will get involved in State politics.
Angie Volmensky
“For faith without voting liberal is dead!”
Who would we have had to vote for to receive God’s grace?
Jeremy Woods
And what is wrong with getting God’s justice anyway?
Jeremy Woods
And there happen to be plenty of leftist Christian websites.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Dear Bill, Yes, I think we have the anti-life government Australia deserves and the few who have tried to be pro-life will have to suffer too.
The private and public lives of the residents in The Lodge in my opinion reflect Australia’s gradual descent into moral chaos. The indicator nosedived when we elected an agnostic leader whose unborn child got in the way of his ambitions. He womanised, drank and charmed his way to the top but at least while in the Lodge he conformed to the idea that the people expected him to be married. The indicator went up a bit when our next PM definitely conformed to the old fashioned Aussie values of hard work, fairness, honesty and faithfulness in marriage and family life. Now it has plunged again even lower this time with the appointment of a leader who is anti-life, an atheist and a shameless fornicator. Please excuse the expression but it is the Truth after all. Indeed we MUST try harder to turn things around especially at the grass roots by taking every opportunity to make these facts known.
Some people argue it doesn’t make any difference to their leadership how political leaders live their private lives but how can they exercise wisdom in their public lives if they don’t exercise wisdom in their private lives? Wisdom is just not part of their lives and political leaders need wisdom above everything else for all our sakes.
Thank you for this wonderful message, Bill. Your writing never fails to move the Spirit in me, to inspire/convict me. ‘May you immediately be inscribed and sealed for a Good Year, and for a Good and Peaceful Life.” Shana Tova!
Kenya Lee Lowther
Surprise, surprise. Oakeshott is a big lefty. Here are some snapshots from his website from Oz Conservative;
‘Along with a Labor MP (Graham Perrett MP) and a Greens MP (Senator Sarah Hanson-Young) I have helped re-establish the Parliamentarians Amnesty International Group … I am also currently serving as the Australian Parliamentary Representative on the all-male … Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Group of the United Nations Development Program that is working on strategies to minimise violence against women and girls within the region – from a male perspective. This has come about due to my involvement as a White Ribbon Ambassador within Australia … and a belief that it is men who have to “man up” on matters in relation to domestic violence.’
‘White Ribbon day’ is also politically motivated as it ignores domestic violence against men.
and…
‘And specifically on immigration policy, I know there are many people who worry about issues in relation to asylum seekers, refugees, ‘illegal’ immigrants, ‘boat people’, or whatever descriptor you might currently be using. Being a recipient of most emails on this topic, and listening closely to ‘street-talk’, I am aware of a lot of incorrect information that is making its way into people’s ‘in-boxes’ on their computers, or is being sold as fact in the local pub.
I genuinely ask anyone who wants to get to the bottom of this challenging policy area, to contact our office … for detailed information that might help with personal views. We have a number of factual resources that can help clarify a lot of the language used in this policy area (there really is no such thing as an ‘illegal immigrant’, or a ‘boat person’, for example), the true statistics, and the options that all policy-makers from all political persuasions are wrestling with.’
http://ozconservative.blogspot.com/2010/09/so-its-gillard.html
Damien Spillane
Bill, while much is made of the pattern of votes cast, we need to remember that our electoral system is based on electorates smaller than the entire nation.
Thus the result is constitutionally valid, and it is only that key figures (such as the caretaker PM) who initially pinned their hopes on the massed votes going a certain way, that have brought the overall picture into view.
We have had many elections at State and Federal levels where the total votes cast for the major parties did not reflect the actual returns of seats in the Parliament.
Sometimes the cry of “gerrymander” has been heard, but not too often lately, as both parties realise that closely fought marginal seat contests will always yield such results.
On the Biblical side, I note that earlier in Habakkuk, God had warned him “Watch carefully – you will be gob-smacked at how I am going to judge My people”.
It may yet happen again. But God told the people thrugh Jeremiah to “build houses, plant vineyards” in the land of exile, and bless that nation with their presence. Be about Kingdom activities as well as earthly responsibilities.
John Angelico
Now, now.
We’ve got to accept the way the electoral system works. Numerous other Governments have won on a minority of the 2PP vote — eg. Hawke in 1990, Howard in 1998. George W Bush won the 2000 US presidential election despite losing the popular vote to Al Gore. So can’t make too much of the 2PP vote.
Likewise the primary vote. It’s number of seats that ultimately matters in our system, not who won the primary vote. Would we prefer proportional representation? That would mean a lower house full of Greens as well. No thanks. Maybe FPTP might work, but that’s an untested system here.
Windsor and Oakeshott have guaranteed that they will not block supply, and that they will support the Government in confidence votes. That’s all. They are not likely to support wasteful, debt-creating Labor policy. Neither are they likely to support loopy private members bills from Adam Bandt. It isn’t all bad.
Would an Abbott govt. be any more stable or effective? I don’t think so. Not if they need to get everything past Crook, Wilkie, Windsor, Oakeshott, and 9 communist senators. He’d be just as hamstrung as Julia is (if not more).
Jereth Kok
Thanks Jereth
I am afraid I am nowhere near as sanguine about all this as you are!
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Don’t get me wrong — I’m not overjoyed about this. I’m quite fearful that we’ll have gay marriage some time in the next 24 months, that Christian school funding will be threatened, etc.
But I’m quite sure of the fact that Gillard’s government will be very fragile over the next 3 years. I get the impression that Wilkie, Oakshott and Windsor are unpredictable mavericks. They clearly enjoy the taste of power and attention they’ve received in the last 2 weeks (as you’ve noted!) and that won’t continue if they just toe the Labor line.
Look how badly Rudd did even with his wave of messianism in 2007. Gillard is off to a much worse start so I wouldn’t bet on her success. I think it will be quite entertaining, for instance, watching the upcoming ALP vs. Green cagefight over carbon emissions policy!
Jereth Kok
Thanks Jereth
I am mostly with you – but I would say 12 months is much more realistic on SSM, unless the church radically gets its act together, and various Christian leaders and groups stop compromising on the homosexuality issue.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Don’t understand your 700,000 figure Bill. The ALP is leading on two-party preferred by about 1200 votes at present. If you based it on first preferences, the ALP/Green count is about 800,000 ahead of the Coalition. And in any case, as others have pointed out, the only thing that counts when forming government is votes on the floor of the House.
There are so many variables and different interests in the mix now that we can’t be sure how things will pan out. It’s new territory for Australia and should make for a very interesting period of government. One good thing that will come out of this is that the Australian people might take a keener interest in politics because the boredom of the two-party system is no longer there.
Bill Sayers, Tamworth
Thanks Bill
I refer of course to the primary vote.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Bill, Tony Abbott may yet be laughing. As comments have indicated, the alliance is fragile. If it falls apart after a while, the indies might go with Abbott – depending on the circumstances – rather than force an election. Then the Coalition might have a more stable grouping if experience in the present framework teaches any lessons. Yes I know, a lot of ifs and mights in that …
Graham Keen, Malawi
Witness Gerard Jackson shred the economic lunacy of Bob Brown and the deceitfully named Greens party in ‘The Greens’ Policies would Destroy the Australian Economy’;
In a letter to The Australian (27 June 1991) he revealed his appalling economic illiteracy by defining logging and mining as “resource robbery”. According to this brilliant economic theorist and economic historian Tasmania is an example of a “post-industrial” society (despite the fact that the state had never been industrialized) because the economy “is not based on dinosaur industries like pulp mills, zinc mills and aluminium mills.” (Italics added.)
It completely escaped the attention of this genius that without pulp mills there would be no paper, and certainly no newspapers to promote his lunacy, The same man who uses numerous electrical appliances, drives a car, travels by train, ship and plane, uses computers and cell phones is the same man who seriously asserts that — what he sneeringly calls — the “extraction industries” that supply the raw materials for these devices can be shut down without lowing wages and raising the unemployment rate.
Critics rightly point out the massive cost in terms of lost export earnings if Brown’s lunatic policies were implemented. But they miss a vital point: these industries are at the very highest stage of the capital structure. This means closing them down would also close down manufacturing because their products are vital inputs for the lower stages of production that produce capital goods, intermediate goods and consumer goods?
http://brookesnews.com/?p=26
Damien Spillane
The issue is not whether it looks like democracy in action, or if we got what we were after or whether the Coalition would have provided more stable government. On the last point it is quite obvious that the Independents would have been a throrn in the side of their Government. The issue is private members bills which Oakshotte and Wilson has given priority to. This will mean that the Greens and Adam Bandt are able to introduce private members bills, which lefties will currently be working furiously on. The PM, if it was Abbott, would have been able to short-circuit these bills. However Gillard and the Labor will likely give the floor to these reformists, and it seems likely that both the Independents will ride merrily along with them.
Sitting back and waiting for the inevitable ‘split’ is not good enough. These Independents need to be held accountable for putting a countries values and moral judgement at risk from a Government that it is clear did not have the mandate. It needs to happen within their Electorates, and it needs to occur from the ground-up, this point needs to be driven home.
Andrew Goodwin
So Tony Abbott would have been the saviour of Australia.
We need to pray for BOTH sides of politics, for godly people to have the courage to stand up to blatantly ungodly policies. The Christian voice also has to be stronger and more vocal – but that voice does not have to be tinged with political bias. Im a ‘born again Christian’ not a ‘born again conservative’. By the way, Tony Abbott did state he would not make policies based on his religious convictions. The Gay lobby is very strong and intimidating look at what happened to Stephanie Rice. Scripute also says what business is it to judge those outside the church, we need God’s wisdom to be effective.
Angie Volmensky
Its certainly the time for many minor party’s such as CDP and Family First to go harder and get more organized for another election.
Greatly concerned for moral issues now though (homosexual liberties, euthanasia, stem cell research, abortion) they will have little contest in the Parliment with our new government.
Just on another note here, it was so interesting to see lots of politicians talking about a government that can work to form consensus on issues, when what they are really stating is ‘we need to have a government that will vote for my policies without giving me any trouble’. The democratic system is setup to debate and fight respectfully and passionately about what a party or person believes in to replace going to war against one another for it! it would seem that people dont understand that civil wars over elections happen as a result of not having a robust and aggressive allowance and tolerance for debate in politics. Adam Bandt of the Greens party said ‘we need a lot more love’ what he is really saying is ‘I dont want to see people arguing’ yet he himself is doing just that!?!?!? as is Bob Brown and everyone else, Parliment is a place where people express what they passionately believe in and all this rhetoric talk from the two independants, the greens and labour is a guise for ‘vote for my policies without debating them’.
Dorian Ballard
Almost as soon as Kevin ’07 was elected, Bob Brown sought to overturn the Andrews measure, introduced by the Howard government, which prohibited Euthanasia in the Territories. To his credit, Rudd never allowed the Bill to be debated. My guess is that in July next year, Euthanasia will be the first cab off the rank.
As for SSM, there are more than enough trendies in the Coalition who would ensure that it was carried; rather like the Act for cloning and embryonic stem-cell research some years ago.
Dunstan Hartley
Thanks Angie
But where did I say Abbott would be saviour? It should be clear by now from my many writings that he would have been a far less bad leader, which is about all we can expect in a fallen world. And of course all sides need prayer.
And with all due respect, while you insist on being just a mere believer without any political bias, all of your comments here so far have betrayed that you seem to be a born-again leftist. That is fine if that is where you stand, but pretending to be totally free of any political bias, while judging others for their stance, seems a bit disingenuous.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Good article Bill. As Washington Phillips the black preacher blues singer said. “We need a lot more Jesus and a lot less rock and roll.” Politics is a dirty business at the best of times and thats not to say we shouldn’t have christians involved. The answer is still to be found when the people of God get on there Knees. 2 Chronicles 7:14. Julia Gillard or Tony Abbott are not Australias salvation but Jesus Christ is. Our job is to pray for them both. God can use them for his purposes and I have a sneaking suspicion he is up to something.
Warwick Marsh
Liberal party legalised abortion in Western Australia, John Howard legalised discrimination based on age in his private healthcare bill. Liberal party has a policy of privatisation of healthcare. People chose to be gay, people chose to have abortions. People dont chose to be sick. If tony abbott would have stepped up to the plate on healthcare the electon result may have been different.
churches need to stop signing the governments paper when they marry people. divorces need to be issued by the church. Christians need to separate their marriages from the government. If the church had not made this unholy union then the government would not have the power to change what has been for thousands of years. All Christian celebrates need to rip up their government apostate qualifications, and start marrying a man and a woman under the umbrella of GOD and stop sticking the government inbetween. One only needs to look at the figures of Christian divorce to see it isn’t working.
In the end I still think a Christian should vote for the sick and vulnerable.
Perhaps the family first party needs to start being the sick, elderly, vulnerable and family first party.
they can then appeal to a broader base of voters, and surely a Christian conscience would be moved to vote for them.
Russell Boden
“Its certainly the time for many minor party’s such as CDP and Family First to go harder and get more organized for another election.”
It’s interesting to look at these results. FF does well in Vic, Qld and SA, CDP in NSW, DLP in VIC.
It seems probable that the 3-way split in the Christian vote is detrimental to the cause. Not least because funding (and therefore campaign strategy and resources) are also split 3 ways. But given the history of these 3 parties it also seems unlikely that they will be able to put aside their differences to form a unified Christian party. I could be wrong of course; a turn of events like the introduction of gay marriage could provide sufficient impetus. I suspect that in the long run a unified Christian party could attract 5% of the vote nationwide and obtain up to 2 or even 3 Senate seats if preferences work in their favour.
Jereth Kok
D. Ballard wrote “Its certainly the time for many minor party’s such as CDP and Family First to go harder and get more organized for another election.”
Good idea.
Hope you are already a member of such a party or will join imminently.
Graeme Cumming
Good one Bill. I have found from my long experience in the media, that when I come across someone who says they are “neutral in politics, but” —they are invariably from the far Left. They are attempting to boost their argument by pretending they are impartial and have thought both sides of the debate through.I remember when I was a member of a tennis club in Central Queensland, there was a woman there sounding out against Sir Joh Bjelke Petersen, while everyone one of the tennis champs wanted to play tennis. Finally, when this woman stopped to take a breath, she said “Anyway, this time we’re going to vote Labor”. To which her honest to goodness 8 year old daughter declared “But Mum, we always vote Labor”. If there had been a floor and a pin available, we would have heard them meet “PING”.
Frank Bellet, Petrie Qld
Thank you Bill for your constant reminders about the slaughter of 100,000 Australian babies.each year; this will backfire on us. In so many ways we have sewn the seeds of our own destruction.
This ‘government’ is the culmination of Cultural Marxism in this nation.
You are always in our prayers.
Carolyn & Geoff Mongan
My sadness surprised me but it should not have; it has brought me to my knees.
Ilona Sturla
God doesn’t want any Labour voters in heaven?.
Why have such a narrow focus and alienate a whole section of society? The nexus between ‘right wing’ and ‘christian’ can be irritating; ‘right wingers do not have a monopoly on God so dont be so unfriendly. the gospel is not right wing propoganda, and I hate communism. A bit of fairness would be like a breath of fresh air and attract more people in the bargain. Not saying to push the left, but when is the right every criticized?
Angie Volmensky
Thanks Angie
But I am afraid that we seem to be covering the same old ground here. Where exactly did I say Labor voters are not believers? Please point this out to us all; otherwise stop with the reckless and unhelpful assertions. Likewise, where did I ever say right-wingers have a monopoly on God?
Can I make an obvious and hopefully helpful observation? If this site irritates you so much, why bother coming here? I am not holding a gun to your head! If it causes you so much indigestion, why not go to a leftist website if that would make you feel better.
I don’t expect you to agree with me, and you certainly do not have to. But if every time you send in a comment you simply do it to complain – complete with plenty of straw men thrown in – then no one is really helped or edified, and there is little point to keep going on and on with it all.
As I keep saying, we may just have to agree to disagree, and go our merry ways.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
It is a sad commentary that so many understand so little.
As an American, I fear for my country as we have a President who is an internationalist who found succor in the corrupt city of Chicago, forged thru a Pastor preaching Black Liberation Theology and whose forte is perineal electioneering leading the western world. The electorate that looses its way elects this kind of woman who will be shacking up the lodge, has a history of the polarized leftest union mindset and is so transparent yet she now sits on the highest perch. Folks look in the mirror closely you are looking at a frog in a pot is your face getting flushed? If God in His wisdom has something up His sleeve I can’t wait to see how He plays His cards cause we’re at a loss down here. The left is playing for keeps folks, wake up and smell the bean…
Steve Evans, USA
BTW Bill, love your stuff and your piece abt Judge Walker, hit the sweet spot for me. The revisionism is happening as we sip our lattes in Seattle or flat whites in Melbourne, and we see nothing. It is blatant what the “progressives” are doing internationally but they have found an incredible foothold in the states and a whole lot of “useful Idiots” to carry there backpacks these days. Where are the visionaries when you need them? We are wanting in our spiritual camp because we have no leaders, everyone is pulling in different directions.
Steve Evans, USA
Many thanks Steve
Yes we both are in for rough times in our nations. You have Hussein and Hillary running the show, and we have Julia and Bob. Effectively four atheists/secular humanists are running our lands. No wonder we are in such a sad state.
We just have to work harder, pray harder, and keep fighting the good fight.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Thanks guys
When is an independent not an independent, but just a con and a scam? http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/neutral-oakeshott-asked-labor-for-state-cabinet-seat/story-fn59niix-1225916807612
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Well you know I was replying to Frank Bellett’s comments insinuating I was ‘far left” and did not mean the ‘irritation’ to be personal to you. Didn’t vote for the Labour Party or for the Liberal Party in the Federal election and I hope Fred Nile and Family First sock it to the State Labour Party as their moral base has been seriously white anted! But the Australian public can smell bias a mile away so care needs to be taken in regards to how things are framed politically. Doesn’t Darwins theory of the survival of the fittest fit more closely with the conservative/Liberal ideology? If there is a leftist christian website, that would be interesting, then there would even more of a Christian influence in society. John Hatton, Independent, is the man to watch, godly perseverance led to Royal Commission into Corruption of the Police Force and rumblings are that he will get involved in State politics.
Angie Volmensky
“For faith without voting liberal is dead!”
Who would we have had to vote for to receive God’s grace?
Jeremy Woods
And what is wrong with getting God’s justice anyway?
Jeremy Woods
Thanks again Angie
As to you question, “Doesn’t Darwins theory of the survival of the fittest fit more closely with the conservative/Liberal ideology?” The answer is a resounding no. Respectfully, only those who know little about Darwinism and conservatism would even ask such a question. In some recent articles I deal with this:
https://billmuehlenberg.com/2010/08/24/what-is-conservatism/
https://billmuehlenberg.com/2006/06/26/a-review-of-the-right-darwin-evolution-religion-and-the-future-of-democracy-by-carson-holloway/
https://billmuehlenberg.com/2008/01/30/a-review-of-darwin-day-in-america-by-john-west/
And there happen to be plenty of leftist Christian websites.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Dear Bill, Yes, I think we have the anti-life government Australia deserves and the few who have tried to be pro-life will have to suffer too.
The private and public lives of the residents in The Lodge in my opinion reflect Australia’s gradual descent into moral chaos. The indicator nosedived when we elected an agnostic leader whose unborn child got in the way of his ambitions. He womanised, drank and charmed his way to the top but at least while in the Lodge he conformed to the idea that the people expected him to be married. The indicator went up a bit when our next PM definitely conformed to the old fashioned Aussie values of hard work, fairness, honesty and faithfulness in marriage and family life. Now it has plunged again even lower this time with the appointment of a leader who is anti-life, an atheist and a shameless fornicator. Please excuse the expression but it is the Truth after all. Indeed we MUST try harder to turn things around especially at the grass roots by taking every opportunity to make these facts known.
Some people argue it doesn’t make any difference to their leadership how political leaders live their private lives but how can they exercise wisdom in their public lives if they don’t exercise wisdom in their private lives? Wisdom is just not part of their lives and political leaders need wisdom above everything else for all our sakes.
Patricia Halligan
More prayer, more prayer, more prayer.
Greg Brien
Quite right Greg.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch