Queensland laws on optional preferential voting have being up for debate again (Click here to read a story on it), and I'm glad it has.
In the past I have being against optional preferential voting, but after listening to a few interviews on the radio with political leaders and reading the attached media story, I have come to change my mind.
I don't feel the differences in the system between the state and national elections would raise the informal vote. The government sends a lot of money explaining on 'how-to-vote' correctly, and I feel they get the message out pretty clear.
A lot of Australians disagree with the compulsory preferential voting system used in the national elections due to the fact they feel their first preference vote ends up with one of the two big parties anyhow. But with the optional preferential voting system, at least they can vote just for the one person they wish to vote for, and not have it moved on to someone that don't like and don't wish to vote for.
I see advantages and disadvantages in both systems. But, I'm coming to the conclusion that the optional preferential voting system is better, and should be introduced across the country, just like it is currently in Queensland.
Regards, Tim.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Free Public Transport
There has being some talk again in the news about providing free public transport during off-peak times. Click here to listen.
This is something I feel needs to be looked into and seriously thought about.
According to the State government, we (the taxpayer) subsidise 75% of the cost of a person's train ticket. So, if we're paying $5.10 for a return ticket (which my wife had to pay to go just ONE station!!), the government is paying $15.30 on top of that. Now, surely it wouldn't cost $20.40 for a train to run for about a minute in between two stations.
If the state government was serious about trying to get people to use public transport they need to lower the cost, by a long way! I'm happy for that price to reach zero, and I'm sure that there are many who would agree. If I was voted into the Parliament, I would flight to lower the cost of public transport for anyone.
There are many benefits of doing this including the environmental benefits of having fewer cars on the road, and also less traffic congestion.
Personally, the only reason I don't catch the train to work at the moment is because of the cost. It's more expensive then driving my car, and it's quicker (even with a car jam). There is also the issue of how often the trains run, but thats other story.....
Regards, Tim.
This is something I feel needs to be looked into and seriously thought about.
According to the State government, we (the taxpayer) subsidise 75% of the cost of a person's train ticket. So, if we're paying $5.10 for a return ticket (which my wife had to pay to go just ONE station!!), the government is paying $15.30 on top of that. Now, surely it wouldn't cost $20.40 for a train to run for about a minute in between two stations.
If the state government was serious about trying to get people to use public transport they need to lower the cost, by a long way! I'm happy for that price to reach zero, and I'm sure that there are many who would agree. If I was voted into the Parliament, I would flight to lower the cost of public transport for anyone.
There are many benefits of doing this including the environmental benefits of having fewer cars on the road, and also less traffic congestion.
Personally, the only reason I don't catch the train to work at the moment is because of the cost. It's more expensive then driving my car, and it's quicker (even with a car jam). There is also the issue of how often the trains run, but thats other story.....
Regards, Tim.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Government Advertising
Here is another area of government that needs a big clean up. Click here to view a story by the QT.
$76 million in advertising a year!! But, yet we have to sell our assists to repay state debt???
This is a big waste of money. I know we all have seen these useless ad's on TV before, and thought 'I just payed for that'.
If I was in government, I would fight to lower the advertising budget, and only allow advertising that informed Qld'ers of laws, and not allowing it to be spent advertising showing off how 'good' the government of the day is.
Help me stop the waste, and return this money back into the budget where it belongs, and to lower our states' debt.
Regards, Tim.
$76 million in advertising a year!! But, yet we have to sell our assists to repay state debt???
This is a big waste of money. I know we all have seen these useless ad's on TV before, and thought 'I just payed for that'.
If I was in government, I would fight to lower the advertising budget, and only allow advertising that informed Qld'ers of laws, and not allowing it to be spent advertising showing off how 'good' the government of the day is.
Help me stop the waste, and return this money back into the budget where it belongs, and to lower our states' debt.
Regards, Tim.
Abortion
There has being a lot of talk about abortion in the media due to a case going to trail in North Queensland. I would just like to say again that I firmly disagree with the act of abortion.
Abortion is an highly emotional topic, and views are wide ranging, but we must remember that there are other, better options then killing an unborn baby that doesn't have a chance to defend itself.
The adults action created the child, and the unborn child shouldn't be the innocent victim.
Options such as adoption are a better alternative, where loving families hoping for a child or another child can love and care for the baby.
Click Here to visit the state goverments website for those who are:
Regards, Tim.
Abortion is an highly emotional topic, and views are wide ranging, but we must remember that there are other, better options then killing an unborn baby that doesn't have a chance to defend itself.
The adults action created the child, and the unborn child shouldn't be the innocent victim.
Options such as adoption are a better alternative, where loving families hoping for a child or another child can love and care for the baby.
Click Here to visit the state goverments website for those who are:
- parents considering adoption for their children
- children requiring adoptive placements
- people seeking to adopt children
- people seeking information about a past adoption.
Regards, Tim.
Saturday, October 09, 2010
Upper House
The other day Family First released a 'media release' that I am most happy about, and something I have thought about much and feel this state so desperately needs..... and that is an UPPER HOUSE (Senate). I can't believe we don't have one!!! I would fight tooth and nail to bring back the upper house to the state government.
In the media release it states:
"Wendy Francis from Family First said that the issue is not whether Queensland should have an Upper House, but how and when it should be introduced."
My ideas are to move 25 members of the House of Rep's to create the Senate. Currently each member of the House of Rep.'s looks after an area with about 30,000 residents. If we moved 25 of them to the senate, each member of the House of Rep.'s would look after 50,000. This way the people of Queensland wouldn't have to pay extra dollars for more politicians, and have their Upper House restored. I would also push for these changes to occur at the state election after the next, to avoid the cost of an additional election.
The Family First party haven't yet decided on a way to restore the Upper House, but any way to return the Upper House is better then no Upper House at all!!!
Here is the link to the media release.
Regards, Tim.
In the media release it states:
"Wendy Francis from Family First said that the issue is not whether Queensland should have an Upper House, but how and when it should be introduced."
My ideas are to move 25 members of the House of Rep's to create the Senate. Currently each member of the House of Rep.'s looks after an area with about 30,000 residents. If we moved 25 of them to the senate, each member of the House of Rep.'s would look after 50,000. This way the people of Queensland wouldn't have to pay extra dollars for more politicians, and have their Upper House restored. I would also push for these changes to occur at the state election after the next, to avoid the cost of an additional election.
The Family First party haven't yet decided on a way to restore the Upper House, but any way to return the Upper House is better then no Upper House at all!!!
Here is the link to the media release.
Regards, Tim.
Welcome
Welcome all to my new blog (and first I might add).
I have created this blog to allow me to share my thoughts on the state of the state government. Also to allow me to share what I would do if I was elected into the state government at the next state election.
As many of you know I ran in the federal election just gone and I learned a lot about the process and what goes on. I'm looking forward to doing all again, but this time fighting of things this state really needs.
See you around.
Regards, Tim.
I have created this blog to allow me to share my thoughts on the state of the state government. Also to allow me to share what I would do if I was elected into the state government at the next state election.
As many of you know I ran in the federal election just gone and I learned a lot about the process and what goes on. I'm looking forward to doing all again, but this time fighting of things this state really needs.
See you around.
Regards, Tim.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)