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Understand Aussie politics and make your vote count!
Australian Politics For Dummies gives you a helping hand as you get to grips with the good, the bad and the ugly of Australian politics. Seasoned political punters and voting novices alike will find fascinating facts and top thrills in in this essential guide. Master the ins and outs of elections, parties and policies. In no time, you'll be discussing and debating the biggest issues with ease. Down under, we all have to vote. It's one of the many beautiful things about this land of ours, and this book will help you learn why (and how) to cast that ballot.
This updated edition gives you everything you need to cast your vote with confidence. You'll identify what makes the Australian political system tick, distinguish between the different political parties and understand the influence of the media in Australian politics.
Decipher political terminology, make sense of the houses of parliament and understand why we have minor parties
Learn how Australia's political system evolved and grasp today's voting systems
Make sense of coalition politics and figure out the differences between the Labor and Liberal parties
Find out why Australia's system of government is described as 'Washminster,' and discover the Whips and the Usher of the Black Rod
You want to know more about Australian politics, but, if we're being realistic, it's very complicated. Australian Politics For Dummies clears it all up.
Auteur
Dr Nick Economou is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Social Sciences at Monash University. He has taught the subject since 1985.
Dr Zareh Ghazarian is a Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations in the School of Social Sciences at Monash University.
Texte du rabat
Get a grip on the Australian political system
From the difference between the Labor and Liberal parties, to how the electoral system works, the Australian political system might seem a little intimidating at first. But with Australian Politics For Dummies, anyone can master the ins and outs of elections, parties and policies! You'll discover how federal and state governments administer their respective responsibilities and how minor parties and independents contribute to politics. If it has an impact on Australian politics today, you'll find it in this book. Inside
Résumé
Understand Aussie politics and make your vote count! Australian Politics For Dummies gives you a helping hand as you get to grips with the good, the bad and the ugly of Australian politics. Seasoned political punters and voting novices alike will find fascinating facts and top thrills in in this essential guide. Master the ins and outs of elections, parties and policies. In no time, you'll be discussing and debating the biggest issues with ease. Down under, we all have to vote. It's one of the many beautiful things about this land of ours, and this book will help you learn why (and how) to cast that ballot. This updated edition gives you everything you need to cast your vote with confidence. You'll identify what makes the Australian political system tick, distinguish between the different political parties and understand the influence of the media in Australian politics.
Contenu
Foreword xv
Introduction 1
About This Book 1
Foolish Assumptions 3
Icons Used in This Book 3
Where to Go from Here 4
Part 1: Politics: You're in It 5
Chapter 1: Australian Politics: The Basics 7
What is Politics? 8
Compulsory Voting 9
A Lot of Government 9
Governing the nation 10
Governing the states 11
Administering the territories 11
Roads, rates and rubbish: Local government 12
From Government to Politics 12
Political parties 13
A two-party system? 15
Interest Groups: Fighting for Causes and Advancing Interests 15
Promotional interest groups 16
Sectional interest groups 16
Umbrellas and peaks 18
Understanding Politicians 19
Who becomes a politician? 19
A 'boys' club'? 19
Heavy hitters: Interest group politicians 20
Politics: You Can't Escape It 21
Chapter 2: Hot Topics in Australia: The Political Debate 23
Apathetic or Engaged? 24
Awareness of issues 24
The 'isms' in politics 25
Things We Never Tire of Talking About 28
Tariffs 29
The role of the unions 29
Immigration 31
Reconciliation 33
Women in politics 34
Great and powerful friends 36
New Things We're Talking About 38
COVID-19 and the pandemic 38
The environment and climate change 38
Climate change and water 40
The republic 41
Globalisation 42
Nation building 42
Complex Issues, Simple Choices 43
Part 2: The Australian System of Government 45
Chapter 3: One Country, Many Rulebooks 47
Australia is a Federation 47
The Constitution and power-sharing 48
The constitutions as rulebooks 48
The Path to Federation 48
The constitutional conventions 49
The states came first 49
The need for a national government 51
Big States and Small States 54
A house for the states: The Senate 54
You get at least five lower house seats if 55
Changing the Constitution 56
The Australian System of Constitutional Government 57
The governors and the governor-general 57
The Executive in Council 58
Ministers of the Crown 59
The parliament 60
The electors 61
The courts 62
Australian Constitutionalism: More than the Written Word 65
Chapter 4: Westminster: Much More than Big Ben 67
A Constitution without a (Written) Constitution 68
What do conventions cover? 68
The Crown 69
The parliament 70
The executive 72
Responsible Government 74
Forming a Responsible Government 74
Resign! Resign! 75
Collective Responsibility 75
Ministerial Responsibility 76
Westminster as Adversarial Politics 77
The alternative prime minister 77
The shadow ministry 78
Westminster and Party Politics 78
Tyranny of the executive? 79
Winner takes all? 79
Westminster and Australia 80
Chapter 5: Washminster: The Australian Hybrid 83
British or American? 84
American federalism: A model for Australia 84
A Senate, a court and a written constitution:
The American legacy 85
Limits to Americanisation: Responsible Government 85
Responsible Government the Australian Way 86
Executive in Council or Cabinet? 87
The governor-general or the prime minister? 87
What about the states? 87 House o...