Australia's next Federal election campaign started officially last weekend, with the election due on August 21st. The two party leaders, Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott, will have the traditional televised debate this Sunday night. It was supposed to be at 7.30pm, but they have decided to move it forward to 6.30, so that it doesn't clash with the final of 'Masterchef'!
I think that shows how little the politicians think the public are interested in the whole political scene...

And to say, they are most likely correct

I don't understand! I thought Julia Gillard was already the PM - is she now standing for re-election? Do you have the same system as us?

And I agree with Nancy about the public interest!

Now this is taking Global Politics to a new level for me. I don't even know what the two parties are called, or which one is Right Wing or Left Wing or down the middle!

Is the Election to choose a new Government or just a new Prime Minister?

The Labor Party was in power (Kevin Rudd was PM), but the people 'in charge' of the party did not have faith in Kevin to win another election. Julia Gillard challenged him for the leadership, and rather than divide the party, Kevin decided not to stand. Julia thus took over as 'Prime Minister-elect', but under Australian constitutional law, an election was due to be called by the end of the year, regardless of who was leader.

In some countries now (possibly Australia) the parties are now 'global warming' or 'not global warming', unlike the UK where they've already been programmed just as they were 30 years ago over the common market (as it was). And whatever that's cost us global warming will make it look like small change one everyone gets carbon taxes round the world. We have the largest in the world and our wonderful new government are now considering energy rationing. They clearly know something they're not telling us but if we need it then it won't just be an isolated problem as we all get it from the same places. Just a heads up for the next step.

The current plans are to issue every person in the country the modern version of a ration book and if they use it up in less than a year then god help them.

Well no worse than "I'm sorry the money's run out and we can't fund your Life Saving Drugs, Move next door and you'll be in an area that can!" (Post Code - Zip Code Lottery)

Sorry but whichever area of the UK you live in, you contribute the same as everyone else and are entitled to the same treatment. If a doctor prescribes it then I don't care where the money comes from!

The same with Benefit Payments - Now this is a hobby horse!
I leave school, become an apprentice, then a Journeyman, then a craftsman. Throughout all this I'm paying my taxes, national insurance etc and then because of some "Financial Dealings" the company goes bust! Redundant after 10 years - and I'm treated exactly the same as a school leaver who hasn't done a days work in their lives. Now this hasn't happened just the once, 5 times!
In 40+ years of employment, I've worked 40 of them I'm paying for the layabouts to sit at home. And it's going to get worse again.
In 18 months, I should be retired aged 65 there is NO way I will be able to live on the State Pension I've contributed to for 48 years!, and guess what will happen! They will increase the retirement age - Wonderful!

Rant Over