election 2013: who are you voting for? week 4

In the lead-up to the election, Lip has invited its writers and readers to share their voting intentions. Lip will publish these perspectives over the coming weeks. We are interested in hearing from those who feel that their perspective hasn’t been represented, those who don’t care about politics at all, and the die-hard political aficionados. No voting justification is too trivial or too broad. If you can share it in 200 words or less, we want to hear it! Email [email protected]

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‘Having read Lara’s opinion in the second week’s column, I do find myself asking the same question: Why are we as voters focussing so much on the leadership squabble between Rudd and Abbott? The media representation of the September 7 play-offs has once again managed to turn our attention away from political realities.

However, once thought about, for me the answer is simple. While we must look to the party policies in order to truly vote for what we hold to be of most importance, we should also look at those leaders chosen by ballot to represent these agendas.

If Abbott is chosen as Liberal Party leader and appears before Australians publically indicating, again and again, a socially regressive attitude to biopolitical issues such as gender equality and gay marriage, how is this not a promotion by the Liberal Party of their regressive attitudes in general and how is this not an attempt for the Liberal party to cosy up with equally unenlightened members of the voting public?

Why do we focus on the ‘figurehead’ of the Liberal Party? Because the Liberals voted 1 Tony Abbott.’ – Raphaelle

‘One of the issues that has been troubling me this election is Kevin Rudd’s support for gay marriage. I’m not convinced that for him it’s about putting the issue front and centre – it feels like a desperate grab for more votes. I don’t appreciate my rights being bandied around like that, like a carrot on a stick to make a donkey run. I feel that the Greens are more in tune with issues that will really make Australia a better place to live, gay marriage being one but also their stance on asylum seekers and environmental issues seem to me to be aspects of our society that require instant change. I don’t buy the “wasting your vote” myth from the two major parties. Preferential voting means you can vote for your principles and beliefs and have a (small) say in how to make the country a better place to live.’  – Natasha, 22

‘In the interests of full disclosure, I voted for the Greens at the last election. I have always admired the Greens’ social policies on the environment, equal rights for the LGBT community, and asylum seekers, that’s why they got my vote. But whilst I still admire these same policies, this election I won’t be voting Green, in fact, I have no idea who I will be voting for.

I understand the importance of a strong economy, but who will provide it? Both Labor and Liberal promise budget surpluses and economic growth, but will they deliver? The economy has fared pretty well under the Labor government, and the Liberals have no policy costings, so who knows what they plan to spend and the impact it will have?

On the other hand, the Liberal party has a generous PPL scheme, but can we afford it?

I am proud of Labor’s implementation of an NDIS, and the Gonski reforms are important too, but their asylum seeker policy seems to forget that we are dealing with real people. The Liberal party isn’t much better in this respect.

We have little over a week to go, I hope things become clearer.’ – Laura, 23

Only a week to go! Have your views been swayed by the events of the last few days?

Are you still undecided?

Has the Coalition’s Paid Parental Leave scheme changed your voting plans?

Let us know below!