Individual states: However, when the coffers are stocked up, the unions will support Labor in their spending modes.

It is probably better to spend money when the coffers are stocked up (otherwise why stockpile it?) than to spend money when the coffers are empty as we have seen over the last 2 years.

How dare taxpayers expect their money be spent on them. Remember only about 45% of us are net taxpayers anyway - the majority get far more back than is temporarily taken from their pay check.

There are many ideas out there worthy of discussion.
I would like a discussion around the notion of a debit tax. An elimination of all other taxes - income, sales, GST you name it.
Our electronic world would make it virtually impossible to avoid paying your commitment to the betterment of our society.

Smaller political parties are able to consider ideas like this and it is unlikely that they will be given any air time.

So yes, I think that the Media is biased at election time.

I've tried to look up the membership numbers of
both One Nation and The UAP. One nation does not
give its numbers. And The UAP claims around eighty
thousand (not confirmed). The UAP has not won a
single seat despite Mr Palmer's spending in the
past.

I wonder if Pauline Hanson will retain her seat in the
Senate?

Hi Foxy,

Requirements to register a political party, is not related to media coverage. The Palmer Party has been signing people up to free membership without their knowledge, claiming they joined online, but that's another John dory.

Back in the day when I was more active in politics, I kept the phone numbers of jurnos I could trust, partially those from local community newspaers a great source of free coverage, making sure they got copies of press releases, etc. If they were doing a story on something they would often ring for comment or a response, which I was always happy to arrange from the candidate. There are genuine candidates, and the not so genuine, running in the lower house to simply garner Senate votes, or running as a stooge for a major party, "I am a Liberal Independent, but give your preference to the Labor Party". I must say the Greens are always open to discussion of the issues, some parties like the Palmer and Hanson parties tend to shy away from scrutiny, and rely on voter ignorance and fear to win votes.

In a NSW state election I recall a young jurno girl telling me; "I can never get a response from the Fred Nile group, I can't even talk to someone, no one ever answers the phone or returns my calls, everyone of us has the same problem" My answer was "it's all about getting the Rev Fred elected back in the LC, bugger the issues." It worked the Rev Fred got returned.

A Labor candidate for the NSW LC, an absolute nutter, in 15th position on the HTV. I said to the lead Labor candidate that bloke you've got in 15th position is an absolute nutter, he said; "We know, but we have to make up the numbers". He was no chance and didn't win.

better to spend money when the coffers are stocked up.
WTF? - Not Again,
Of course, no argument there but how many times have we had to watch good money blatantly wasted. ? Both majors are guilty of that but Labor even more so. At least the Coalition isn't buying votes via bureaucrat positions as blatantly as labor.
I have long said foreign aid for example should be in goods & materials rather than money & "services". We could reactivate basic local manufacturing of tools, prefab emergency homes & useful machinery for foreign aid instead of sending "experts" on travel allowances. The list of doing things more efficiently & becoming a better society in the process is endless & endlessly beneficial to all. All we need is just a little new blood to restock common sense & improve on the present mentality of those in authority.

Speaking of frauds, so far Albo has:

.lied about pensioner cashless cards
.lied about his past record on boat turnbacks
.lied on borders
.lied on his job with Hawke
.lied about casual workers
.lied about not being a climate crusader
.lied about health plans
.refused to say how he will defend us from China

ttbn,

Any evidence to back up your opinion?