Response from Colin Barnett in Sunday Times.

[.X.]

I am a firm believer that stupid people should not have the right to vote.

Damn straight, they shouldn't be able to breed either.

[jargan83]

I enjoy voting below the line, make sure my preferances go to who I want them to and not to another party in some pre-arranged deal

[jono]

Damn straight, they shouldn't be able to breed either.

and they are generally the ones who do...

[jargan83]

Damn straight, they shouldn't be able to breed either.

unfortunately any measures to ensue that they don't would go against the United Nations Human Rights Charter

[BLR]

unfortunately any measures to ensue that they don't would go against the United Nations Human Rights Charter

Our big brothers the Yanks don't pay attention to it, why should we?

[jargan83]

because were better then yanks

[BLR]

But your just stereotyping and generalising by assuming that no one under 18 is well informed enough to cast a proper vote.

Speaking from personal experience the first few years after leaving high school is a difficult time. During high school a person is essentially focused in on getting their work done and the various school intrigues. Only the nerds would actually pay attention to politics more then the extremely superficial level. After leaving school the bubble is burst and the world opens up. During the next few years is the most important time to learn about the world and when voters start getting informed about various issues, in most cases, corresponds to around, if not just after, the legal voting age. Voting at 16 would be worthless as the high school system is in the whole so insular they the voter wouldn't understand much about the outside world and how voting for a particular candidate will affect them, so they will treat it with apathy.

You need the extra time to throw off the structured high school education and learn your own way around the world and around politics. I know it took me a year or so to get over the culture shock of education to a working life.

[Darren]

useless trivia - since 1956, Labor has only won elections called in February...


...mind you, only 3 of the last 12 state elections were not held in February

Western Australian State Elections + Results
1st Parliament 27 November to 12 December 1890 * 30 Forrest Party
2nd Parliament 14 June to 3 July 1894 * 33 Forrest Party
3rd Parliament 27 April to 28 May 1897 * 44 Forrest Party
4th Parliament 24 April 1901 50 Leake Party
5th Parliament 28 June 1904 50 Labor
6th Parliament 27 October 1905 50 Liberal
7th Parliament 11 September 1908 50 Liberal
8th Parliament 3 October 1911 50 Labor
9th Parliament 21 October 1914 50 Labor
10th Parliament 29 September 1917 50 Nationalist & Country Party Coalition
11th Parliament 12 March 1921 50 Nationalist & Country Party Coalition
12th Parliament 22 March 1924 50 Australian Labor Party
13th Parliament 26 March 1927 50 Australian Labor Party
14th Parliament 12 April 1930 50 Nationalist & Country Party Coalition
15th Parliament 8 April 1933 50 Australian Labor Party
16th Parliament 15 February 1936 50 Australian Labor Party
17th Parliament 18 March 1939 50 Australian Labor Party
18th Parliament 20 November 1943 50 Australian Labor Party
19th Parliament 15 March 1947 50 Liberal & Country League and Country Party Coalition
20th Parliament 25 March 1950 50 Liberal & Country League and Country Party Coalition
21st Parliament 14 February 1953 50 Australian Labor Party
22nd Parliament 7 April 1956 50 Australian Labor Party
23rd Parliament 21 March 1959 50 Liberal & Country League and Country Party Coalition
24th Parliament 31 March 1962 50 Liberal & Country League and Country Party Coalition
25th Parliament 20 February 1965 50 Liberal & Country League and Country Party Coalition
26th Parliament 23 March 1968 51 Liberal & Country League and Country Party Coalition
27th Parliament 20 February 1971 51 Australian Labor Party
28th Parliament 30 March 1974 51 Liberal & National Alliance Coalition
29th Parliament 19 February 1977 55 Liberal & National Country Party Coalition
30th Parliament 23 February 1980 55 Liberal & National Country Party Coalition
31st Parliament 19 February 1983 57 Australian Labor Party
32nd Parliament 8 February 1986 57 Australian Labor Party
33rd Parliament 4 February 1989 57 Australian Labor Party
34th Parliament 6 February 1993 57 Liberal / National Party Coalition
35th Parliament 14 December 1996 57 Liberal / National Party Coalition
36th Parliament 10 February 2001 57 Australian Labor Party
37th Parliament 26 February 2005 57 Australian Labor Party

[slomo]

well done coach............. stats must be your thing!!!!!

[shasta]

A belated well done FA and to everyone else who has contributed. I can't remember who directed us to "Ask Colin" in the Times but the number of stadium questions probably earned the subject top billing on Sunday. So whoever it was.

Who's got the balls? - Western Force Rugby Supporters Site

was the one that really seemed to get the Libs, at least, to hear what we have been trying to say.

The only reaction from Labor so far has been deathly silence. I urge everyone here to get on their case in the next 5 days with renewed vigor. E mail them, ring their offices and ring the radio stations. The profile has been raised higher than it was a month back and they must know the opposition can see some votes in the issue so who knows what can be achieved by Saturday. Here's the details of the radio stations again.

ABC Perth:

Studio talkback: 1300 222 720
SMS contact programs on air: 199 22 720

Drive - Russell Woolf (afternoons)
720drive@your.abc.net.au <720drive@your.abc.net.au>

Mornings - Geoff Hutchinson
wamornings@your.abc.net.au <wamornings@your.abc.net.au>[

880 6PR

Talkback Number: (08) 9221 1882
SMS: 19 999 677

Mornings - Simon Beaumont
simonb@6pr.com.au

Early Afternoons - Bob Maumill - has been named as the reason the Premier of Western Australia Alan Carpenter will not appear on radio 6PR.
Bob's response - “Good, he is too thick to sensibly answer questions anyway. Our listeners are a lot smarter than Carpenter.”
bob@6pr.com.au

Afternoons - Howard Sattler
howards@6pr.com.au

Sports:
Karl Langdon
Karl<sport@6pr.com.au>
Adrian Barich
Barra<sport@6pr.com.au>
Others
sport@6pr.com.au
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