A Short Guide to Candidates and Ballot Completion, Australian Election 2022
In the upcoming Australian election it is difficult to know who best to vote for.
We are blessed to live in what has been one of the best countries on earth, but sadly Australia has lost its way, not just ideologically but morally. Standards have plummeted; the political discourse is at new lows, and disrespectful and abusive behaviour commonplace.
The only real difference now between the major parties is their name, as both endorse regressive policies and both exhibit duplicity. Politicians are engaged in foolish debates whilst ignoring important national issues. This nation can and must do better! And you’re reading this because you want better too.
However any restoration of the nation to its former principles is very unlikely to come from its politicians. When government gets large, grasping, and corrupt the people must act to restore democracy, or they will fall victim to tyranny.
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. Prov 14:34
Many concerned about the state of the nation are saying “we don’t know who to vote for”, others are asking us; “what do you know about (local) candidates in the campaign?” and, “how do we vote so it matters?”
These are important questions, so make yourself a good cuppa and find a comfy seat, as there is some reading, and to be blunt, it’s not all thrilling but it is all necessary to find some answers, so do persevere. If you prefer reading off-line, this can fit on two A4 pages and be easily printed to study.
Why should you vote? Answer: to maintain our democratic system of governance. Yet a lot of people think voting is a waste of time, and in a very concerning trend an increasing number of people are adopting the ill-informed, frankly dangerous view that democracy is bad. Visit; Why Democracy Matters to learn why such a view is dangerous.
https://libertyherald.medium.com
Many people have disengaged from ‘politics’ a lot of them don’t care how they complete their ballot. Others claim it’s only necessary to pray and ‘leave it to God’, yet this is inconsistent with the instruction that believers in Christ be salt and light, people of integrity and influence. Fact is, it’s important to be intelligent about how elections work, and use discernment about who to vote for.
Fact, voting matters, and voting properly is vital. Around 1 in 20 people invalidate their vote every election, either by not completing it properly or deliberately ruining it. Don’t be one of them; Voting is how you choose who you want to govern the nation.
Plus, voting is a Constitutional right, and an essential function of democracy. Voting properly is how bad government and politicians can be removed, and good people brought into and kept in politics. Consequently, because the people’s vote has power, good people also need to be involved in the electoral process, to see its checks and balances are observed and ensure the integrity of the system.
At the 21 May 2022 election there will be two ballots, a green one for the House of Representatives, and a white one for the Senate. Some people ask which matters most? Simple answer is both matter. Have a trial vote at; AEC Practice Voting
All around town bright coloured posters are popping up toadstool-like, but don’t believe everything they say! Be wary of candidates claiming to be independents, some are, but a lot are not. Many are fakes, such as the ‘teal independents’ the group of women funded by the Climate200 party, whereas others are backed by far-Left ‘GetUp’, but all working overtime to unseat sitting Liberal MPs.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES This summary is for people voting in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, within the Federal Parliament seat of Groom. It takes a brief look at the Groom candidates running for a seat (eight as of 04/05/2022) and they are listed by surname, ordered alphabetically, so no one has grounds to make accusations of bias!
ABRAHAM, Grant — One Nation
ALLPASS, Gen — Labor
BANNISTER Melissa — United Australia
BERRY, Mickey — Greens
HAMILTON, Garth — Liberal
HOLT, Suzie — Independent
OTTO, Ryan — Australian Federation Party
SMOLENSKI, Kirstie — Independent
For a summary of each, calling it as we see it, visit; Candidate Summary
Current polls are showing a large number of undecided voters, and indicating a big protest-vote against the majors is very likely, as many people are tired of Liberal and Labor shenanigans, dishonesty and hypocrisy, and many are still angry that both parties have complicity in the recent oppressive covid restrictions and jab mandates imposed by the States, and still being enforced by many.
Political analysts are all warning Labor can only form government by doing a deal with the Greens, and that’s too awful a prospect to have happen, again. Imagine a Bandt-Albanese government, ughh horrors. (And some may remember the terrible policies that resulted after Gillard formed government with the Greens)
For the sake of the nation, for families, for yourself, for children, heck for the sake of the dog, be sure and put Greens ice-cold last.
As regards the potential big swing to minor party’s and independents, this could backfire, owing to one simple fact; polling numbers. The majors still command approximately 35% to 40% of the vote each, so allowing for invalidated and wasted votes, even if all the minor party’s and independents combined together they still cannot get more than approx, 20% of the vote.
Point being? One of the major party’s will still form the basis for the next government.
So, do you want a hard-Left Green-controlled Labor government? Or, do you want the Liberal-Nationals to continue governing?
If your answer is the latter, but you intend to vote 1 for a minor party or independent, to ‘send a message’, be sure and do one thing, make your preferences count, in order to avoid Green-Labor sneaking into power on the basis of careless preferences.
How then to complete the House ballot? A suggestion is, start in reverse.
For example; 8 Greens, 7 Labour, 6 & 5 Independents. Then, 1 is who you want to have a seat in parliament. (Groom options are; One Nation, Australian Federation, or United Australia) Now for your subsequent preferences, and this really matters, (especially in a scenario of a hung parliament) because here you must decide which major party you’d prefer to have form government. The other two minors can be 2 and 3, but to keep the status quo put Liberal 4 ahead of Labor and Independents. Visit; https://majorslast.com/how-to-vote-cards
Reason; because the Groom independents are Left-leaning their preferences are likely to go to Greens / Labor. And that along with other preferences could get Green-Labor across the line. Yes the LNP are a disappointment and not the best, but yet they’re still the best ‘major’ option!
Ultimately though the order of your ballot is your choice.
Note: We’re very wary of candidates who declare themselves ‘professing’ or ‘practicing’ Christian at election time, yet fail to make or live up to that claim the rest of the time, so we have not sought to identify or promote them.
However the Australian Christian Values Institute provides a checklist of where political party’s say they stand on ‘Issues of concern to Christians’. Visit; https://christianvalues.org.au/checklists/current-elections
SENATE There are six Senate seats for Queensland up for election in 2022, and you can either vote above the line for a minimum of six parties or groups of your choice, or, vote below the line for a minimum of twelve individual candidates of your choice.
Senate voting, particularly below the line, requires every reader to do their research on candidates available. But be aware, party / candidate options for the Senate differ to those on the House ballot, there are about thirty running, including some really bizarre ones.
A big showdown is looming between Pauline Hanson and many Senate hopefuls. There is potential for a big upset, because although Labor and Liberal seats appear safe, an oddball outlier, or worse still the Greens could grab Hansons seat. That would be bad for Australia because, like her or loathe her, fact remains Hanson is one of very few fair-dinkum Senators, who holds old-style Aussie values, who is unafraid to speak for liberty and uphold truth in the Senate. She needs to retain her seat.
If you desire Senators of principle, who have Australian best interests at heart, Senators who’ll provide vigorous scrutiny of House and other matters, to be elected, it is suggested vote below the line for the 12 (minimum) candidates of your choice. For readers interested in a suggestion list of Senate candidates, click reply on the Freedom project email that brought you here and request it. freedomproject@mail.com
Once again the order in which you number your preferences after 1, matters, because to be elected each Senate seat candidate has to win a set quota of each electorates’ votes. This is all rather complicated, and it broke your authors brain — he is yet to recover — but soldiers on, (do send chocolates) so the quota system cannot be explained here, but suffice to say again your order of preferences does matter, as either surplus or insufficient votes are redistributed until the required number of Senators is elected.
Positive change can happen within a nation when the people exercise the powers as given them by their Constitution, and voting is one of those powers. Problem is many people have been deceived into believing they have no power. Wrong, those in power want you to think that. Learn your Constitution; insist on the rights and responsibilities it provides.
Naturally not everyone will agree with every suggestion made or conclusion drawn here, and that’s alright, it’s not necessary to. The cogent exchange of ideas and vigorous disagreement are all not only healthy, but essential to the maintenance of free society.
How you vote matters. We can and must do better in this nation; it urgently needs good people in parliament who have the nation and the peoples best interests at heart, parliamentarians who will stand for truth, liberty and justice. Pray for our nation
Mark
“That Truth, Liberty, and Justice, shall prevail”
(PS if any website link provided doesn’t work, check back soon)
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