The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
The Forum - On Line Opinion's article discussion area



Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Main Articles General

Sign In      Register

The Forum > Article Comments > Western Australian election preview > Comments

Western Australian election preview : Comments

By Graham Young, published 10/3/2017

The WA election is between a government that is tired and an opposition that is not exactly fresh.

  1. Pages:
  2. Page 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. All
Graham, I think you are pretty close to being on the money.

A couple of points:

One Nation getting into bed with Libs (preference deals) has been a disaster, which is likely to see a stronger swing to Labor and other minor parties.

You made no mention of Independent candidates, I think there will be a large increase due to voter dissatisfaction with all the major and minor parties, and finally,

It won't really matter much, the State is broke, the same old same old just won't be enough to repair the damage and lastly voter apathy and hubris will see more of a 'selection' rather than 'election' for any meaningful change.

A pity really when you consider the opportunities this State could offer with good management, fiscal prudence and a little vision and resolve.

Cheers, Geoff
Posted by Geoff of Perth, Saturday, 11 March 2017 1:44:33 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
The usual pattern has been that after a government
has been in power for as long as Barnett's, voters usually
want a change. The polls are predicting a swing to Labor.
We'll have to wait and see. I'm not sure how well known
the Labor candidate is or how experienced or qualified he is.
Still a change is as good as ...

If only Barnett could pull a rabbit out of a hat and convince
the voters that he still has a great deal to offer. But
perhaps it's too late.
Posted by Foxy, Saturday, 11 March 2017 8:52:19 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
As with the rest of Australia, neither the Liberals nor Labor have have any business thinking that they should be in government although, sadly, one of them will. I don't think that One Nation has much to do with state politics.

By tonight, no matter which pack of drones wins, WA will be no better or worse off for the next three years. All Australian elections will be ho hum affairs until we find people with the honesty and integrity to make changes. Alas, we don't have such animals at the moment.
Posted by ttbn, Saturday, 11 March 2017 8:59:41 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Personally I would vote for Barnett.
To me the other guy is an unknown and
I simply wouldn't risk it. I'd give Barnett
another chance and if he blows it this time
he'd be out on his ear the next time around.
Posted by Foxy, Saturday, 11 March 2017 9:03:06 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
While your kindly analysis is largely correct Graham. Not what I'd describe as on the money. What we see is the result of riding a mining boom, taking credit for those results and consequently being welded to them when the brown stuff hits the fan.

I expect government to change hands today, but then Labor will confront the same debt and deficit issues that have handcuffed the now fractured coalition. And more than ever, the whipped dog approach to energy is biting hard.

Most folk understand that energy is an essential service,rather than a market for money grubbing investors to make a killing, usually it's the economy that's the subsequent corpse!

Moreover, those blinded by dollar bills or power can't see that or are focused their electoral (power) prospects alone. As far as I know, WA does not have much in the way of coal prospects? The kerfuffle over the Timour Sea gas and oil prospects, not helpful.

What that state needs is bold vision and an energy plan for the future. And given the natural abundance of thorium and what it promises!? They could do worse than pin their economic revival to that.

Somebody needs to lead. rather than follow like vision impaired sheep! The outcome in most of, sold to the highest bidder, Australia!

Walkaway safe, clean, cheap, not for profit, people's thorium power, coupled to space age desalination as deionization, could not just Change the W.A. landscape, but remake it anew as a veritable garden of eden!
Alan B.
Posted by Alan B., Saturday, 11 March 2017 9:41:50 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Having lived in W.A. for thirty years I personally think the state is far too large to manage as a whole.
My years have been in the Kimberley and quite frankly it's like living in another country.
The lifestyle is different, the needs are different, the people are different.
The logististics of providing services, education, health, jobs etc over such a massive area is always going to be problematic for any government.
Just consider, health issues alone. You live in the north and need to see a specialist, one who doesn't travel to the north routinely. So there is the cost of a return airfare, $60/night towards accommodation and $75 taxi voucher. Per person. Every time!
Or even for a basic MRI. Same thing.
Then there is the never ending issue of remote aboriginal communities and the small fortune it takes to keep them functioning.
It doesn't matter which party gets power, the problems will remain whilst the size of the state stays unchanged.
Without massive income from mining I don't see how any government can get WA in the black.
Posted by Big Nana, Saturday, 11 March 2017 12:50:24 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
  1. Pages:
  2. Page 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. All

About Us :: Search :: Discuss :: Feedback :: Legals :: Privacy