Election '13 - A call for questions

Masquara said :

How will your government go about improving Asian language skills in Australia?

What a stupid question. Why would Australians want to improve Asian language skills?

How will your government go about improving Asian language skills in Australia?

We hear so much negativity about the opposition when election time rolls around– what three things do you consider to be positive about your opponent and why?

What will you do to stop The Chronicle from being thrown on my front lawn every week?

Kevin Cock, Gunghalin.

ToastFliesRED said :

Would you vote for a ban on “conscience votes”? The idea that an individual can hold a parliamentary vote based on their own personal beliefs which their electorate have not voted them in on seems an obscure perversion of parliament. Sure we might not agree on every one of a party’s policies that we vote for but at least they are out in the open. The idea that a bunch of politicians will vote on their own beliefs rather than the will of the electorate seems totally against democracy. If the issue is that important why not hold a referendum?

Plus, if this is the case we would have no need to ask candidates questions, we could get everything we need from MrRabbots pamphlets.

When will the Australian political system return to a form of selection whereby candidates are elected based on their strengths, rather than protest voting based upon their opponents weaknesses?

Primal said :

What does the phrase ‘efficiency dividend’ mean to you?

It’s as productive as getting rid of tea ladies.

Are you a poem or a story?

What does the phrase ‘efficiency dividend’ mean to you?

Having read these 10 questions, what is your opinion of Canberra voters?

Grimm said :

Ben_Dover said :

3. The introduction of Siberian wolves into the ACT nature reserves would help reduce kangaroo and rabbit numbers in a green and eco friendly manner, while providing more excitement for the ACT population, are you in favour?

I will vote for and campaign for anybody who is in favour of this idea.
I believe we also need bears.

How about we introduce the wolves and bears into our northwest coastlines and Christmas Island as well. Do I get a vote?

Pork Hunt said :

poetix said :

What is your position on gay marriage?

What is your position on missionaries?

I thought missionary was a position? The answer is on top if the candidate is male.

JC said :

Holden Caulfield said :

To me the NBN seems like a great idea, can you tell me why you think it’s ace/a dumb idea.

Or more to the point, aimed a Liberal candidates why is FTN a suitable alternative, and of course how much support did Uncle Rupert agree to give for you to support FTN, thus ensuring there is little scope for competition to Foxtel.

Better yet will any a cost benefit analysis be done comparing this to the FTTP, including maintenance of copper, upgrade costs in the future. I want to see the cost benefit analysis over say 20-30 years. I know which one will win hands down, but love to see the spin put onto it by those who think giving businesses a tax break is better use of money than providing tools for people and businesses to achieve.

farout said :

Would you support an “self-sponsored refugee” visa class, to be applicable to persons claiming refugee status but who are sufficiently cashed up to pay people smugglers to bring them to Australian waters.

Key features of this visa class would be:
1. They pay for their own immigration processing costs – visa, health checks, background checks, accommodation during processing. Needless to say they will need to provide sufficient identification.
2. They are not eligible for Newstart Allowance for the first 2 years after arrival (same as applies to Skilled migrants). They need to bring enough funds or work to support themselves and their dependents.
3. At the end of 2 years, if they have gainfully employed, not come to the attention of law enforcement, and continue to be self-supported, they can apply for Permanent Residency. If not, their visa will expire and they will be repatriated to their country of origin in the same way as tourist visa overstayers.

This has the merits of a great idea, but it won’t win votes from the paranoid in western sydney 🙂 I’m not totally in agreeance with 2 and 3 but some scheme like this, perhaps with incentives, like the $5000 put into trust and if they are genuine they get that money back.

Why should governments try to micromanage macroeconomic issues? What conflicting goals make this job difficult? How effective can any government really be as it is only one factor in the economic environment?

I want to ask this question because I really don’t know how important it is or whether anyone working in the field really knows what they are doing. It would be fascinating to get some official responses to the fundamental assumption that makes many people’s decisions for them.

Holden Caulfield said :

To me the NBN seems like a great idea, can you tell me why you think it’s ace/a dumb idea.

Or more to the point, aimed a Liberal candidates why is FTN a suitable alternative, and of course how much support did Uncle Rupert agree to give for you to support FTN, thus ensuring there is little scope for competition to Foxtel.

When is there going to be a comprehensive inquiry identifying the reasons why the justice system has failed to perform to community expectations and what measures will be introduced to rectify the deficiencies?

poetix said :

What is your position on gay marriage?

What is your position on missionaries?

What is your position on economic management, in terms of balancing the need for future (and better) infrastructure, management of the budget and contribution to Australia’s future economic development?

What is your vision for Australia’s economic future, and what measures do you propose to implement to work toward this?

what is your view on Marriage equality?

are you pro life or pro choice?

what is your view on euthanasia?

what are your views on Wind farms?

do you support a solar feed in tariff?

Monarchy or republic?

do you think Canberra needs more on road bike paths?

do you think we should consider increasing the gst to ensure secure on going funding to the states and territories?

do you send you children to private or public schools?

when was the last time you caught and ACTION bus?

when did you move to Canberra?

how many super rugby titles have the brumbies won?

when did the raiders last win a grand final?

do you think the NSW, ACT and fed govs should work together on improving the Kings Highway?

1. Do you support an “open season” on cyclists?

2. Would you support a motion to have Sydney crowned “The Capital of Australia” and Canberra to be then known as “The Administrative Centre of Australia”?

3. If found to have told a lie in parliament, would you volunteer to be put in stocks in front of Parliament House, and for the electorate of Canberra to be given free rein to pelt you with rotten fruit?

potatoe (pot-ay-toe), potatoe (pot-ar-toe)
tomato (tom-ay-toe), tomato (tom-ar-toe)
which is it?

Would you vote for a ban on “conscience votes”? The idea that an individual can hold a parliamentary vote based on their own personal beliefs which their electorate have not voted them in on seems an obscure perversion of parliament. Sure we might not agree on every one of a party’s policies that we vote for but at least they are out in the open. The idea that a bunch of politicians will vote on their own beliefs rather than the will of the electorate seems totally against democracy. If the issue is that important why not hold a referendum?

What are your views on the NSA collecting private information of Australian citizens and corporations, of the Australian government’s participation in similar programmes, and of the apparent silence of Australian politicians on the matter?

Have you ever tried riding a bicycle in a bike lane on a chip sealed road, and how angry were you after the experience?

Whatever the last thing you just said … do you have a source on that?

With the rise in obesity levels and health care costs, will you support a rebate scheme for gym memberships via Medicare? To avoid rorting, only people who are gym members continuously for three years or longer should be eligible to claim.

Would you support an “self-sponsored refugee” visa class, to be applicable to persons claiming refugee status but who are sufficiently cashed up to pay people smugglers to bring them to Australian waters.

Key features of this visa class would be:
1. They pay for their own immigration processing costs – visa, health checks, background checks, accommodation during processing. Needless to say they will need to provide sufficient identification.
2. They are not eligible for Newstart Allowance for the first 2 years after arrival (same as applies to Skilled migrants). They need to bring enough funds or work to support themselves and their dependents.
3. At the end of 2 years, if they have gainfully employed, not come to the attention of law enforcement, and continue to be self-supported, they can apply for Permanent Residency. If not, their visa will expire and they will be repatriated to their country of origin in the same way as tourist visa overstayers.

Our agricultural production, food importation, and freight infrastructure are heavily dependent on oil. Populations are continuing to grow. Destructive flooding and heatwaves are predicted to become more frequent as the century moves on, while agricultural cycles will become less dependable.

What policies do you have, or are developing, in regards to fostering long-term, affordable, food security in Australia?

Ben_Dover said :

3. The introduction of Siberian wolves into the ACT nature reserves would help reduce kangaroo and rabbit numbers in a green and eco friendly manner, while providing more excitement for the ACT population, are you in favour?

I will vote for and campaign for anybody who is in favour of this idea.
I believe we also need bears.

For years Australia prospered through Agriculture, then through mining …. what will be our competitive strength in 20-30 years and how will you work towards achieving that vision? or will we just bumble along and see what happens?

What is your position on gay marriage?

Would you be willing to cross the floor on matters of strong personal conscience or of significant concern for your electorate?

A nice hairy one, especially for ALP candidates.

1. What will you do to help make Canberra less boring?

2. Will you use your influence to help prevent the ACT Govt. wasting $$$$billions on a light rail system which is not supported nor needed?

3. The introduction of Siberian wolves into the ACT nature reserves would help reduce kangaroo and rabbit numbers in a green and eco friendly manner, while providing more excitement for the ACT population, are you in favour?

Do you believe you are the best person to hold the position you are running for? Follow up question – isn’t that attitude a little arrogant?

Do you think cyclists should be registered?!

How much longer do you think our taxes should prop local car manufacturing in the face of ever declining sales?

Why was there a public outcry when 1200 Ford workers got a three year advance notice of their sacking when, in contrast, nobody seems to care that several thousand Canberra-based APS could be sacked, starting as early as next month?

When do you think Australia will be grown up enough to have one of its own citizens as its head of state?

Do you the union jack is appropriate on the Australian flag?

What is your stance on widening the tax requirements for organizations currently exempt from paying tax, specifically religious groups, considering the amount of revenue that could be raised by doing so to pay for community initiatives such as the NDIS?

To me the NBN seems like a great idea, can you tell me why you think it’s ace/a dumb idea.

Recent polling (Auspoll) shows housing affordability to be a critical issue for a majority of Australians, with 84% of respondents saying it was important to them or their families, putting housing affordability ahead of issues such as education, border security, the NBN and NDIS.

The same poll also revealed that 84% of respondents also believe that Australia is not performing well on housing affordability.

Australian Governments are failing badly on this issue of critical importance to Australians.

What would you do to improve housing affordability?

Are you comfortable with the distribution of wealth in modern day Australia?

What do you see as the priorities for the ACT in the coming term of Government?

Apologies if this is a double post. A few from me

What are your views on euthanasia?

Do you support a High Speed Rail Link between Sydney/Canberra/Melbourne. If so, when do you think is a reasonable date for completion?

If elected and you were given a $1 million cheque to be spent in any way you see fit in your seat, what would you do with it?

Why does the Coalition want to build 6000 extra illegal immigrant places on Nauru if they are turning back the boats?