Malcolm Turnbull just said a mandate is all about how one looks at it.

Liberals want a mandate on dumping climate action

Labor's mandate to slide behind The Greens and not buckle against liberal bullies.

Greens Mandate, defend climate action and renewable energy while improving legislation of the next party.


So will anyone have a mandate post saturday?

In the Navy, you see a lot of man date ;)

Vic wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 8:33am:

In the Navy, you see a lot of man date ;)

..speaking from personal experience are you?  ;D

Swagman wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 8:34am:

Vic wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 8:33am: In the Navy, you see a lot of man date ;) ..speaking from personal experience are you?  ;D

Most definately!  ;)

The Magazine?

---

greeny thats revolting..please put him back on your bedroom wall. 8-)

If the ALP gets thumped as predicted in the polls, they'd be insanely stupid to block legislation to repeal the carbon tax. After all, the Coalition did not block Labor from abolishing WorkChoices! One would expect Labor to do the decent thing and listen to the people, for once.

greeny has just put me right off voting greens forever..

Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 8:59am:

If the ALP gets thumped as predicted in the polls, they'd be insanely stupid to block legislation to repeal the carbon tax. After all, the Coalition did not block Labor from abolishing WorkChoices! One would expect Labor to do the decent thing and listen to the people, for once.

Labor believe dangerous climate change is the greatest moral issue of our generation.

By crumbling, labor will be selling out this greatest moral issue for the third time.

Voters know Greens in the Senate and in the HofR will never sell out action and adaption to dangerous climate change like Libs and gNats have.

____ wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 9:08am:

Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 8:59am: If the ALP gets thumped as predicted in the polls, they'd be insanely stupid to block legislation to repeal the carbon tax. After all, the Coalition did not block Labor from abolishing WorkChoices! One would expect Labor to do the decent thing and listen to the people, for once. Labor believe dangerous climate change is the greatest moral issue of our generation. By crumbling, labor will be selling out this greatest moral issue for the third time. Voters know Greens in the Senate and in the HofR will never sell out action and adaption to dangerous climate change like Libs and gNats have.

Is that why they dropped an ETS in favour of a carbon tax?

cods wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 9:00am:

greeny has just put me right off voting greens forever..

So you will never support death and dignity when Baby Boomers back Greens on this issue in the next decade.

You plan to sell out for a nanny state that persecutes ageing Australians.

Shame Cod, your elderly brothers and sisters are relying on you and you flick their plight off ... shame !

Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 9:10am:

____ wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 9:08am: Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 8:59am: If the ALP gets thumped as predicted in the polls, they'd be insanely stupid to block legislation to repeal the carbon tax. After all, the Coalition did not block Labor from abolishing WorkChoices! One would expect Labor to do the decent thing and listen to the people, for once. Labor believe dangerous climate change is the greatest moral issue of our generation. By crumbling, labor will be selling out this greatest moral issue for the third time. Voters know Greens in the Senate and in the HofR will never sell out action and adaption to dangerous climate change like Libs and gNats have. Is that why they dropped an ETS in favour of a carbon tax?

Like I said ... will Labor drop this issue for a third time.

Greens in the Senate for those unsure of Labor's commitment.

no such thing as a mandate ... Since Abbott didn't abide by any mandates when he took the leadership of the libs, he can hardly ask labor to abide by them.

And round and round we go.

John Smith wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 9:16am:

no such thing as a mandate ... Since Abbott didn't abide by any mandates when he took the leadership of the libs, he can hardly ask labor to abide by them. And round and round we go.

What mandates? This term of parliament has seen a hung parliament in which no one has a majority and therefore no one has a mandate. Try getting it right once in a while.

Only the greens have man dates. Ask booby

progressiveslol wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 12:07pm:

Only the greens have man dates. Ask booby

Only Greens ... are you sure.

Bott spent 3 years in a homosexual hotbed, aka Manly's St Patrick’s Seminary.

And we know Abbott got punched in the ring a few times.


and then there are all the gay Liberals

Gay Liberal MP supports marriage equality

http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/local-news/new-south-wales-news/2011/11/09/gay-liberal-mp-supports-marriage-equality/65295

---

Mandates are impossible to define if you are looking for an absolute hair-splitting formula.  However if you are an honest and ethical person, mandates are not that hard to work out at all.

and if you don't understand this, then you probably never will.

So claiming a mandate is just political spin.

____ wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 12:27pm:

So claiming a mandate is just political spin.

see... I know that as a gay green you would find it impossible to understand the concept of and ethical/moral position!  Thanks for proving my point.

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 12:38pm:

____ wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 12:27pm: So claiming a mandate is just political spin. see... I know that as a gay green you would find it impossible to understand the concept of and ethical/moral position!  Thanks for proving my point.

Ethical and moral are not exclusive to your narrow view of the world so claiming it to yourself you are revealing your lack of understanding of the views around you.

Ethics and morality has nothing to do with political spin and claiming a mandate is just political spin.

Abbott is just trying to spin so to try and wedge Labor.

____ wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 12:45pm:

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 12:38pm: ____ wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 12:27pm: So claiming a mandate is just political spin. see... I know that as a gay green you would find it impossible to understand the concept of and ethical/moral position!  Thanks for proving my point. Ethical and moral are not exclusive to your narrow view of the world so claiming it to yourself you are revealing your lack of understanding of the views around you. Ethics and morality has nothing to do with political spin and claiming a mandate is just political spin. Abbott is just trying to spin so to try and wedge Labor.

all you are showing is that you have little idea of a moral or ethical position.

Quote:

Mandate Anyone?

Will you give it a rest. Stop with the fudge packing campaign.

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 2:38pm:

____ wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 12:45pm: longweekend58 wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 12:38pm: ____ wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 12:27pm: So claiming a mandate is just political spin. see... I know that as a gay green you would find it impossible to understand the concept of and ethical/moral position!  Thanks for proving my point. Ethical and moral are not exclusive to your narrow view of the world so claiming it to yourself you are revealing your lack of understanding of the views around you. Ethics and morality has nothing to do with political spin and claiming a mandate is just political spin. Abbott is just trying to spin so to try and wedge Labor. all you are showing is that you have little idea of a moral or ethical position.

You are showing you are just here to play word games without substance.

Ethics and morals are relative to a person's view to the world.

Your vision of ethics and morality are exclussive to your narrow view of the world and are not the template for all of humanity.

You have no monopoly on morals and ethics so stop pretending you have.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 8:59am:

If the ALP gets thumped as predicted in the polls, they'd be insanely stupid to block legislation to repeal the carbon tax. After all, the Coalition did not block Labor from abolishing WorkChoices! One would expect Labor to do the decent thing and listen to the people, for once.

This mandate thang is dishonest cr#p. Many people who vote for the Libs this election would still prefer the carbon tax and ETS to stay (but vote lib for other reasons). Indeed many will vote Lib in the lower house and Greens (or any of the other left leaning minor parties) in the senate with the specific purpose to block Abbott's repeal legislation. Truth is after the election we will still be none the wiser on where the majority stands on the carbon tax and the ETS.  That's why when they tell you that this system is a democracy it's grade A Cr#p.  Christine Milne said on the 7.30 report last night that there was no way the Greens would vote to scrap the carbon tax. If Labor caves on this BS mandate argument we need to hit the streets.   

John Smith wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 9:16am:

no such thing as a mandate ...

Actually, there is one mandate involved; the Governor General gives a mandate to form a government to the one who can prove they have the support of a majority in the House of Representatives. Pretending that mandate covers individual policies is perversion.

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 12:24pm:

... mandates are not that hard to work out at all. ...

El58; stop playing with your mandates.

Tony Abbott has yet to release an election promise, as yet undisclosed. He is going to colonise Mars with Greenies where they can run around in the rarified air up there and eat green cheese. ;)

red baron wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 3:40pm:

Tony Abbott has yet to release an election promise, as yet undisclosed. He is going to colonise Mars with Greenies where they can run around in the rarified air up there and eat green cheese. ;)

Maybe it's you, playing with el58's mandates.  :o

ImSpartacus2 wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 3:25pm:

Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 8:59am: If the ALP gets thumped as predicted in the polls, they'd be insanely stupid to block legislation to repeal the carbon tax. After all, the Coalition did not block Labor from abolishing WorkChoices! One would expect Labor to do the decent thing and listen to the people, for once. This mandate thang is dishonest cr#p. Many people who vote for the Libs this election would still prefer the carbon tax and ETS to stay (but vote lib for other reasons). Indeed many will vote Lib in the lower house and Greens (or any of the other left leaning minor parties) in the senate with the specific purpose to block Abbott's repeal legislation. Truth is after the election we will still be none the wiser on where the majority stands on the carbon tax and the ETS.  That's why when they tell you that this system is a democracy it's grade A Cr#p.  Christine Milne said on the 7.30 report last night that there was no way the Greens would vote to scrap the carbon tax. If Labor caves on this BS mandate argument we need to hit the streets.

really?  so all those polls over the past few years and months that say that the CT is hated and wanted to be repealed are nonsense?  You greenies don't really go with the whole 'majority rule' thing, do you?

Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 11:52am:

John Smith wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 9:16am: no such thing as a mandate ... Since Abbott didn't abide by any mandates when he took the leadership of the libs, he can hardly ask labor to abide by them. And round and round we go. What mandates? This term of parliament has seen a hung parliament in which no one has a majority and therefore no one has a mandate. Try getting it right once in a while.

What about labors mandate to introduce an ETS? selective memory there armpit ... it must be nice to pick and choose

# wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 3:34pm:

John Smith wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 9:16am: no such thing as a mandate ... Actually, there is one mandate involved; the Governor General gives a mandate to form a government to the one who can prove they have the support of a majority in the House of Representatives. Pretending that mandate covers individual policies is perversion.

so if Abbott gets a senate majority you are ok with workchoices 2, mandatory bible study in schools and removal of the dole and single mums welfare?  Normally you would say that he has no mandate for such policies but you don't believe in such things.

You do actually believe in mandates.  You just don't know how to describe them or articulate them.

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 4:40pm:

ImSpartacus2 wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 3:25pm: Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 8:59am: If the ALP gets thumped as predicted in the polls, they'd be insanely stupid to block legislation to repeal the carbon tax. After all, the Coalition did not block Labor from abolishing WorkChoices! One would expect Labor to do the decent thing and listen to the people, for once. This mandate thang is dishonest cr#p. Many people who vote for the Libs this election would still prefer the carbon tax and ETS to stay (but vote lib for other reasons). Indeed many will vote Lib in the lower house and Greens (or any of the other left leaning minor parties) in the senate with the specific purpose to block Abbott's repeal legislation. Truth is after the election we will still be none the wiser on where the majority stands on the carbon tax and the ETS.  That's why when they tell you that this system is a democracy it's grade A Cr#p.  Christine Milne said on the 7.30 report last night that there was no way the Greens would vote to scrap the carbon tax. If Labor caves on this BS mandate argument we need to hit the streets.    really?  so all those polls over the past few years and months that say that the CT is hated and wanted to be repealed are nonsense?  You greenies don't really go with the whole 'majority rule' thing, do you?

Don't bother arguing mandates with longy ... he's all for them as long as they suit the libs, as soon as it's to someone else's benefit, there is no mandate.

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 4:43pm:

# wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 3:34pm: John Smith wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 9:16am: no such thing as a mandate ... Actually, there is one mandate involved; the Governor General gives a mandate to form a government to the one who can prove they have the support of a majority in the House of Representatives. Pretending that mandate covers individual policies is perversion. so if Abbott gets a senate majority you are ok with workchoices 2, mandatory bible study in schools and removal of the dole and single mums welfare?  Normally you would say that he has no mandate for such policies but you don't believe in such things. You do actually believe in mandates.  You just don't know how to describe them or articulate them.

so now a mandate also includes things that you promised NOT to do ... it's hard to keep track with you longy, you chop and change with each sentence

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 4:40pm:

...  so all those polls over the past few years and months that say that the CT is hated and wanted to be repealed are nonsense? ...

What polls are those? Didn't the ABCs VoteCompass poll show that a majority want the government to do more on global warming?

The Murdoch press, aided and abetted by rabid right wing shock jocks may have distorted the public's perceptions, but a majority is still in favour of action.

John Smith wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 4:47pm:

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 4:43pm: # wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 3:34pm: John Smith wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 9:16am: no such thing as a mandate ... Actually, there is one mandate involved; the Governor General gives a mandate to form a government to the one who can prove they have the support of a majority in the House of Representatives. Pretending that mandate covers individual policies is perversion. so if Abbott gets a senate majority you are ok with workchoices 2, mandatory bible study in schools and removal of the dole and single mums welfare?  Normally you would say that he has no mandate for such policies but you don't believe in such things. You do actually believe in mandates.  You just don't know how to describe them or articulate them. so now a mandate also includes things that you promised NOT to do ... it's hard to keep track with you longy, you chop and change with each sentence

damn you are stupid.  why can you not see irony and context like normal people??  I was SPECIFICALLY referring to the fact he promised not to do so.

idiot.

# wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 5:17pm:

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 4:40pm: ...  so all those polls over the past few years and months that say that the CT is hated and wanted to be repealed are nonsense? ... What polls are those? Didn't the ABCs VoteCompass poll show that a majority want the government to do more on global warming? The Murdoch press, aided and abetted by rabid right wing shock jocks may have distorted the public's perceptions, but a majority is still in favour of action.

and here is how you distort facts.  that was NOT a poll on the Carbon Tax.  the only polls that don't show a majority wanting the end of the carbon tax are those designed to elicit a specific result.  Global warming and carbon tax are two very different topics.

If you have seen the plethora of polls on the topic of the carbon tax over the years then you must have been blind.

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 4:40pm:

really?  so all those polls over the past few years and months that say that the CT is hated and wanted to be repealed are nonsense?  You greenies don't really go with the whole 'majority rule' thing, do you?

God you really have gone stupid now.  So what the majority has determined is now to be decided by the polls is it. You are a fool.  Think before you post.  I'm telling you, you've lost it, badly. 

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 5:35pm:

# wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 5:17pm: longweekend58 wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 4:40pm: ...  so all those polls over the past few years and months that say that the CT is hated and wanted to be repealed are nonsense? ... What polls are those? Didn't the ABCs VoteCompass poll show that a majority want the government to do more on global warming? The Murdoch press, aided and abetted by rabid right wing shock jocks may have distorted the public's perceptions, but a majority is still in favour of action. and here is how you distort facts.  that was NOT a poll on the Carbon Tax.  the only polls that don't show a majority wanting the end of the carbon tax are those designed to elicit a specific result.  Global warming and carbon tax are two very different topics. If you have seen the plethora of polls on the topic of the carbon tax over the years then you must have been blind.

Three out of five Australians don't wish to scrap the carbon tax if doing so damages government revenue, according to polling undertaken exclusively for Fairfax Media.

The Lonergan Research survey of more then 1300 people across Australia also found voters were evenly divided over which leader they believed was best equipped to deal with asylum seekers.

The automated phone poll of 1369 people was conducted last weekend and revealed 62 per cent of respondents desired to keep the price on carbon and 38 per cent wanted it removed even if doing so damaged revenue.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/most-want-to-keep-carbon-tax-poll-20130713-2px4d.html

14/7/13

____ wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 6:08pm:

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 5:35pm: # wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 5:17pm: longweekend58 wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 4:40pm: ...  so all those polls over the past few years and months that say that the CT is hated and wanted to be repealed are nonsense? ... What polls are those? Didn't the ABCs VoteCompass poll show that a majority want the government to do more on global warming? The Murdoch press, aided and abetted by rabid right wing shock jocks may have distorted the public's perceptions, but a majority is still in favour of action. and here is how you distort facts.  that was NOT a poll on the Carbon Tax.  the only polls that don't show a majority wanting the end of the carbon tax are those designed to elicit a specific result.  Global warming and carbon tax are two very different topics. If you have seen the plethora of polls on the topic of the carbon tax over the years then you must have been blind. Three out of five Australians don't wish to scrap the carbon tax if doing so damages government revenue, according to polling undertaken exclusively for Fairfax Media. The Lonergan Research survey of more then 1300 people across Australia also found voters were evenly divided over which leader they believed was best equipped to deal with asylum seekers. The automated phone poll of 1369 people was conducted last weekend and revealed 62 per cent of respondents desired to keep the price on carbon and 38 per cent wanted it removed even if doing so damaged revenue. http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/most-want-to-keep-carbon-tax-poll-20130713-2px4d.html 14/7/13

desperate to use a company who's expertise has nothing to do with the subject matter, but typical of get the answer you want fools

http://www.lonerganresearch.com.au/expertise/

progressiveslol wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 6:14pm:

____ wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 6:08pm: longweekend58 wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 5:35pm: # wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 5:17pm: longweekend58 wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 4:40pm: ...  so all those polls over the past few years and months that say that the CT is hated and wanted to be repealed are nonsense? ... What polls are those? Didn't the ABCs VoteCompass poll show that a majority want the government to do more on global warming? The Murdoch press, aided and abetted by rabid right wing shock jocks may have distorted the public's perceptions, but a majority is still in favour of action. and here is how you distort facts.  that was NOT a poll on the Carbon Tax.  the only polls that don't show a majority wanting the end of the carbon tax are those designed to elicit a specific result.  Global warming and carbon tax are two very different topics. If you have seen the plethora of polls on the topic of the carbon tax over the years then you must have been blind. Three out of five Australians don't wish to scrap the carbon tax if doing so damages government revenue, according to polling undertaken exclusively for Fairfax Media. The Lonergan Research survey of more then 1300 people across Australia also found voters were evenly divided over which leader they believed was best equipped to deal with asylum seekers. The automated phone poll of 1369 people was conducted last weekend and revealed 62 per cent of respondents desired to keep the price on carbon and 38 per cent wanted it removed even if doing so damaged revenue. 14/7/13 desperate to use a company who's expertise has nothing to do with the subject matter, but typical of get the answer you want fools

Ergo, you cant use polls to determine mandate.  Oh and I love this from LongWeekend "the only polls that don't show a majority wanting the end of the carbon tax are those designed to elicit a specific result".  Oh and which are those, the polls you don't trust or the polls I don't trust (Murdoch's newspoll for instance).   

ImSpartacus2 wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 6:07pm:

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 4:40pm: really?  so all those polls over the past few years and months that say that the CT is hated and wanted to be repealed are nonsense?  You greenies don't really go with the whole 'majority rule' thing, do you? God you really have gone stupid now.  So what the majority has determined is now to be decided by the polls is it. You are a fool.  Think before you post.  I'm telling you, you've lost it, badly.

well it is a whole lot more accurate than people like you claiming the CT is popular n the basis of whatever argument you can come up with today.  the election on Saturday is a referendum on the carbon tax.  But I am sure you will reject that as well.  You greenies are really quite anti-democracy at your core.

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 6:54pm:

ImSpartacus2 wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 6:07pm: longweekend58 wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 4:40pm: really?  so all those polls over the past few years and months that say that the CT is hated and wanted to be repealed are nonsense?  You greenies don't really go with the whole 'majority rule' thing, do you? God you really have gone stupid now.  So what the majority has determined is now to be decided by the polls is it. You are a fool.  Think before you post.  I'm telling you, you've lost it, badly.  well it is a whole lot more accurate than people like you claiming the CT is popular n the basis of whatever argument you can come up with today.  the election on Saturday is a referendum on the carbon tax.  But I am sure you will reject that as well.  You greenies are really quite anti-democracy at your core.

Its actually an election about which party (or parties) you want to govern you for the next 3 years having regard to the different policies of each party on the multitude of different issues, (refugees, NBN, education, money management, government debt, past record, trustworthiness, education, local issues, local members, the list goes on) only one of which is the carbon tax. To pretend that out of all of that when I gave you my vote it was for your carbon tax policy and not for your refugee policy (despite your carbon tax policy) is simply a lie.  If it were as you say "a referendum on the carbon tax" then we would have a separate ballot paper to tick in the polling booth that said something like "Do you support the carbon tax legislation" (like the referendum they withdrew on local government).

What disturbs me about all this is that the position I am putting to you and the one that I am inviting you to embrace is the position that gives you, the voter, more power and respect then Abbott and the other politicians want to give you.  I think your angry, frustrated and shooting yourself in the foot right now precisely because deep down you know that your not being respected by the system, because you have no control and nothing you believe in and hold dear to your heart really influences the decisions that are made and forced on you by others.  Stop heading the cheer squad for them and start demanding a genuine role in deciding these things for yourself. I think we'll be happier and hate each other less because of it.      

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 5:33pm:

John Smith wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 4:47pm: longweekend58 wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 4:43pm: # wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 3:34pm: John Smith wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 9:16am: no such thing as a mandate ... Actually, there is one mandate involved; the Governor General gives a mandate to form a government to the one who can prove they have the support of a majority in the House of Representatives. Pretending that mandate covers individual policies is perversion. so if Abbott gets a senate majority you are ok with workchoices 2, mandatory bible study in schools and removal of the dole and single mums welfare?  Normally you would say that he has no mandate for such policies but you don't believe in such things. You do actually believe in mandates.  You just don't know how to describe them or articulate them. so now a mandate also includes things that you promised NOT to do ... it's hard to keep track with you longy, you chop and change with each sentence damn you are stupid.  why can you not see irony and context like normal people??  I was SPECIFICALLY referring to the fact he promised not to do so. idiot.

Do you know any normal people? You make the dumb comments and I'm the stupid one????  ... hehehe your a joke longy. Do you have to have help to tie up your shoelaces?

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 6:54pm:

well it is a whole lot more accurate than people like you claiming the CT is popular n the basis of whatever argument you can come up with today.  the election on Saturday is a referendum on the carbon tax.  But I am sure you will reject that as well.  You greenies are really quite anti-democracy at your core.

http://idiotklub.com/idiot.gif

John Smith wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 4:47pm:

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 4:43pm: # wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 3:34pm: John Smith wrote on Sep 4th, 2013 at 9:16am: no such thing as a mandate ... Actually, there is one mandate involved; the Governor General gives a mandate to form a government to the one who can prove they have the support of a majority in the House of Representatives. Pretending that mandate covers individual policies is perversion. so if Abbott gets a senate majority you are ok with workchoices 2, mandatory bible study in schools and removal of the dole and single mums welfare?  Normally you would say that he has no mandate for such policies but you don't believe in such things. You do actually believe in mandates.  You just don't know how to describe them or articulate them. so now a mandate also includes things that you promised NOT to do ... it's hard to keep track with you longy, you chop and change with each sentence

To the Liberals obviously - takes us back the the GST, where the Libs do actually claim a mandate on a policy they promised to never ever impliment.

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 4^th, 2013 at 5:35pm:

... If you have seen the plethora of polls on the topic of the carbon tax over the years then you must have been blind.

If you have seen a plethora of polls that were not worded to elicit a certain answer and showed a preference for an end to the so-called "carbon tax", along with the compensations and benefits that flowed from it, then you must have been hallucinating.

Like it or not, Politicians will do what they want & what they can get away with, when we vote them into power, depending on any checks & balances that we put into our vote/s.

So, on casing our votes, for both the Lower House (which is probably an APT NAME for it) & the Senate, we should consider the likely ramifications, seriously, very seriously!