Postkiwi

I voted in the Australian federal elections for the first time on Saturday. It was a moment our family had looked forward to ever since we became citizens on Australia Day earlier this year. We walked as a family down the local polling booth, run by the local Church of Christ.

Waiting outside the door were three party representatives with ‘how to vote sheets’, one on the left from Labour, and two on the right from Liberal and National. No one from the Greens or Democrats. I used to think the practice of ‘how to vote’ cards was an affront to democracy. But looking at the complexity of the voting form I can now see how handy it is to get some support from the preferred party. The House of Representatives voting form in Fadden had eight candidates, whom I was required to vote for in order of preference. When it came to the Senate I had the choice of ticking a party’s box or numbering all 65 candidates from Queensland in order. I chose to do all 65.

I’ll put my colours on the mast by saying that earlier in the week I’d had a great conversation with Rana Watson, the local Labor candidate for Fadden. We talked about ways in which the federal government can foster respect for the unique approaches to land and economy provided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We both come from New Zealand originally and naturally think about the distinctive natures of the Maori and Aboriginal peoples. It was good to hear about how Rana got involved in politics through mobilising his fellow workers.

When it came to voting for the Senate I found myself hoping for an alternative voices that would keep Labor and the Coalition honest. Having made my top choices it was a matter of wading through the seemingly harmless Fishing Party and Australian Fishing and Lifestyle Party before consigning genuinely dangerous voices to the bottom of the heap.

After lunch out, and a leisurely walk home, it was time to head off to find aerial cables to connect up our TV in the new house.

Despite it clearly being a landslide to Labor, candidates generally refrained from public bitterness and bravado. Courtesy and dignity and respect for the democratic process came through in such a way as to put the lie to Sunday morning’s newspaper headlines of “PM’s pain as reign ends in night of blood”, “Invisible man fells minister”, and “Tribal warfare in western suburbs”. (Sunday Mail)

I am so looking forward to a climate in which a wide range of political leaders can provide leadership in their field and invite collaboration and consultation. I’m even tempted to explore joining a political party if that’s what it takes to become part of the development of the future policies of this country.