@powder ?? = ?

@David1955 Sure we don't go far left and are centrist in many ways on the left and right wing but I think the two major parties are on either side and sometimes are more to the center and other times to the more alt of the wings. Parties are not even necessary under our constitution as it is (nor do we have a bill of rights we let laws cover that which works for and against us) We don't have a right to free speech which is why we imprison whistle-blowers, we don't have to give equal rights based on our constitution. A single person is ignored below head of state (the queen), the governor general could dissolve government if he wants. Apathy is a serious problem in Australia but we're in no means a stupid people though there is a lot of half-truth and isn't actually true but I was brought up to believe that (e.g. - the belief that aboriginals weren't agriculturalists or some site said that children brought up with Same sex parents are more likely to be abused because I don't trust/know... I don't understand the placebo effect so I'll spend all my savings on essential oils, Jesus does reference hope but never strictly says I love you but I've been told that so it must be true etc) . In that apathy we have sleepwalked over 100 years in 'a false freedom' of a constitutional monarchy of which if we'd relied on we would've been screwed multiple times if we weren't able to work with other nations and a diverse economy. I would hope that a new constitution written in the wake of a new republic would be up with the times. I know no party is perfect and will pass/attempt to pass policy or legislation not everyone would agree on. There was bipartisanship on the TPP-11 agreement which depending on POV is horrible or very economically viable, Australia's version of an EU with some if companies want to claim laws/policy is effecting their ability to gain wealth they have to bring the argument to court rather than donate to a particular party. Liberal donated a shitload of money to the Great barrier reef foundation (still less than the 6 billion that comes from tourism of it per year) and got a lot of flack because of the official members but the foundation actually works with many different scientists and a whole dedicated facility to it. The company had a good record with how donations were spent and already was a major part of research and action to bring the bleached reef back to life. Back to apathy again, apathy can lead to inaction but it can also lead to anger because you really don't care who get's to use the damned bathroom but you'll start talking if it's all anyone ever talks about and you're just trying to binge big-bang theory or learn something. When I see distraction that takes up a lot of mental space (e.g. - whining about millennial or gay marriage which I'm happy passed) I look for what else is happening and sure enough I find the attempt to see something that might effect everyone. Sure enough when we were distracted by SSM law many diferen't companies were trying to get their hands on the great Australian Bight which if an oil spill happened would cover the southern half of Australia. Well I went off track there. No party is perfect but I would like to be in a country which it's citizens can actually own (crown land) and well democratic.