Thoughts on before the election

So its come to this.  My first foray into Citizen Journalism almost done.  I might post again, but I'm not sure.  I'm not expecting any changes here in Gellibrand about who will get elected.  Tim Watts will be elected as the new member for Gellibrand.  He has a job as the member for as long as he wants it.  I'd say that if the Liberal/National coalition is elected, Tim will be minister in the following Parliament, maybe not cabinet, but certainly a minister. 

It is silly for someone with Tim's skills who has a safe seat not to be.  Tim has the right backing factionally, and this will be very handy for him.  Especially if there is a big loss of ALP members as predicted tomorrow.  The big hope is that Tim actually becomes a good local member.  This term is thrown around a bit, but it is a safe seat, and can easily be taken for granted.  I hope Tim does. 

I indicated early in my nofibs journey (to invoke MasterChef), that I thought the Greens would be out to knock off the Liberal Party for second place once the vote is counted.  I don't know if they will, but they will certainly come close.  The Greens candidate, Rod Swift, has proven to be everywhere, with lots of helpers.  This can't hurt, his chances of knocking off the Libs, or in helping to get the lead Senate candidate, Janet Rice, elected. 

The Liberal candidate, David O'Connell, has been campaigning, and has told me that the party is keen to support all seats.  This mustn't go as far as appearing at a local forum, but these things happen.  David is getting well known in the electorate, and this will probably serve him well when going for preselection in the seat of state Williamstown. Williamstown booths in Gellibrand always have the highest proportion of Liberal votes, and the continued gentrification of that area may well see David in with a shot, but not for a couple of election cycles.

The Sex Party candidate, Allan Cashion, is someone I think we will see more of.  As long as he doesn't get disenchanted my the whole process.  Their policies are very reasonable, and the lead Senate candidate would be a good addition to the parliament.  Depending on how minor parties poll, the Sex Party might become the fourth party.  Or even the third is the Greens do a Democrats.

Our Palmer United Party candidate, Dwayne Singleton, could also be around for the long term.  Again, this depends on the party. If Clive shuts down the party, then that's it.  If he doesn't the role for all minor parties is to keep their profiles up for the next election.  I could see Dwayne going for local council and probably succeeding.  It is always hard with a small party who has only just started. 

The two further minor parties, Australian Christians and Family First.  The ACP candidate, Anthony O'Neill, showed up at the forum and presented his views.  I don't agree with them, and stated my reasons why in my forum post.  But in a democracy, he is entitled to them.  Family First have been very low profile.  Seeing what Kerry Arch, FF candidate, tweets, it would appear that she was a candidate looking for a party.  Just about every tweet has been about restoring the parenting payment that the ALP removed.  Here's some news - won't happen under an Abbott government! 

Kerry has probably out tweeted everyone with this gem on 2 September: 

I'm a single parent and Childsupport helped pay for my kids private school Now working PT/Newstart I can no longer afford the fees.

David had the line at the forum in relation to same sex marriage: 

Penny Wong might be a great parent, but she will never be a great dad.

Both are fantastic contributions to the campaign.

What have I learnt?

Being fairly politically active before means that I've seen and run campaigns.  I was biting my lip a few times not to give suggestions to candidates.  At the forum, it was very hard for me to stand back, as I would have been one putting pressure onto candidates for things they have said.  Doing this also strengthened my views on who would get my first vote.  There have been some things said that I just don't agree with and the actions and self righteously of some candidates has confirmed all my suspicious of some parties. 

I know that come Sunday, I'll have a few less followers on Twitter and there will be some accounts closed. 

The ALP will always be the ALP, with the multitudes of views and factions. I am very familiar with it having been involved, and I know the right can be very strong in its desire to get what it wants.  And will.

The Liberals run a campaign to ensure that their supporters get a chance to vote for their person. I've done this in electorates before, so know what it can be like.

The Greens.  I honestly think that the Greens need a bit more bastard about them.  Maybe they are behind the scenes, but from what I see the need to always be right, not compromising and at times un-pragmatic could be their downfall.  Politics is all about greys and is not black and white.  I think the Greens see black and white at lot of the time, which politics isn't.  Compromise and compassion forms and continues in the grey, and some actions by the Greens in parliament me to think that this is the case.

Sex Party and others.  I think the Sex Party will continue on.  Some of their policies I agree with, some I don't.  ACP and Family First - a bit like the Greens, have issues that they believe in and that's it.  Not for me, then.

I said that nofibs gave me the bona fides to push forward with my reporting here in Gellibrand. It has been a blast meeting and communicating with the candidates, some of whom I know I'll keep in contact with, even if it's only on Twitter.  Those that I met and communicated with showed themselves to be reasonable and decent people who hold values that they are prepared to stand up for.  Not many of us would.

So to end (probably), I've had a blast.