logo
ENFRع
#

Latest news with #IndependentMP

Independent MP to push a lowering of Australia's voting age after UK decision
Independent MP to push a lowering of Australia's voting age after UK decision

ABC News

time5 days ago

  • Politics
  • ABC News

Independent MP to push a lowering of Australia's voting age after UK decision

Independent MP for Kooyong Monique Ryan has vowed to introduce another bill to parliament pushing for a lowering of Australia's minimum voting age, after the United Kingdom reduced its voting age from 18 to 16. In the UK, the move would see an additional 1.6 million young people allowed to cast their ballots in the next election, in the biggest electoral reform in more than half a century. Ms Ryan told the ABC's Afternoon Briefing that she would be supportive of Australia implementing a similar move. "Around the world, there is a global move to lower the voting age," Ms Ryan said. "The fact is, in democracies we see that fewer and fewer young people feel they are actively engaged and supported by government and they're turning away from politics and what we want to do is bring them back. Ms Ryan said that she planned to introduce another private member's bill during the upcoming term of federal parliament, after an initial bill in 2018 failed to pass. "When the parliamentary committee looked at this in 2018, Labor was supportive of lowering the voting age. "Where things fell down was whether or not 16- and 17-year-olds should be forced to vote, whether it should be compulsory, or whether it should be voluntary at that age," Ms Ryan said. "I'll be pushing it because young people in my electorate tell me that it matters to them." The independent believes that, if the voting age were lowered, an inclusion in the bill that would rescind any potential electoral fine issued against young people who refuse to vote may help gain parliamentary approval. "If we think 16- and 17-year-olds are fit to vote, that they have the cognitive and emotional maturity to do so … then they should vote," she said. "The fallback option is that you don't enforce any fines on young people who don't turn up the first time round. "That would be a reasonable meeting point where we don't put too much pressure on young people, but we give them this universal enfranchisement and treat them as adults." Young Australians and some politicians are hoping this plan will have a snowball effect in Australia. Amelia Condon-Cernovs was 15 when she started advocating to lower the voting age with the Foundation for Young Australians. Now 18, the Canberran campaigner said young people wanted a voice and a chance to be involved in democracy, with the cost of living, education and climate change fuelling the change. She said that, much like driving a car, young voters should learn the political system bit by bit. "You don't go from not knowing how to drive to having your full licence," she said. The voting age has not always been 18 — roughly 50 years ago, it was 21. In 1973, the federal government moved to lower the age of eligibility amid the Vietnam War. Political scientist at the Australian National University Jill Sheppard said that change followed a social understanding that if young people could die for their country, they should be able to vote for it. And at the time, like today, not everyone was happy. Greens senator Jordon Steele-John introduced a bill to lower the voting age in 2018 and recently said Australians needed to think about who they wanted to influence policy. "I know who I would trust, out of those two groups. "We've got around half a million Australians who currently are prevented from having their say about policy decisions that will affect them for the longest." For the voting age to change, the federal government would need to pass legislation to amend the Commonwealth Electoral Act of 1918. If Senator Steele-John's bill had passed, he said it would have been compulsory for those 16 or 17 years old to vote. However, it would have introduced a clause in the Electoral Act to would allow electoral officers to consider waiving a fine if someone 16 or 17 years old did not vote. Dr Sheppard researches voting behaviour in federal elections and says parties fear lowering the vote will open "Pandora's box". "Labor probably wouldn't be any worse off if they allowed 16- and 17-year-olds to vote, but that fear of opening Pandora's box is always a worry for parties of government," she said. "What may happen in this parliament, though, because the Greens have the balance of power in the Senate, is that they put that on the table as a bargaining chip. Austria, Germany and Brazil have already changed the voting age to 16 and Scotland allows voting at 16 in local elections, although the UK general election is run under UK law. Dr Sheppard said while compulsory voting was one key difference between the Australian and British electoral systems, she believed the evidence found in other countries would also flow on to Australia. "It is time for Australia to follow suit. If the UK can do it, so can we," Senator Steele-John said.

Zoe Daniel FINALLY concedes defeat two weeks after throwing a dance party when she thought she WON
Zoe Daniel FINALLY concedes defeat two weeks after throwing a dance party when she thought she WON

Daily Mail​

time31-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Daily Mail​

Zoe Daniel FINALLY concedes defeat two weeks after throwing a dance party when she thought she WON

Independent MP Zoe Daniel has officially conceded defeat in the race for the inner-Melbourne seat of Goldstein weeks after she threw a premature victory party. The concession follows an extensive partial recount, requested by Daniel after the initial count showed her trailing by just 260 votes. 'It's been a long process and, in the end after a recount of about 85,000 votes, representing 75 per cent of the votes cast, there were only a few votes in it,' Daniel said in a video shared to X on Saturday. She acknowledged that the once-safe Liberal seat had become one of the most hotly-contested in the nation and emphasised the heightened level of accountability that will follow the close result. 'Goldstein is now one of the most marginal seats in the country, and with that comes embedded accountability. In that, we have done our job. This incredibly close contest reflects just how much our community cares about the future,' she said. Daniel hinted that she may run again at the next election. 'See you in 2028? Maybe!' she wrote at the end of her message. Daniel's admission comes after she lapped up the adulation of her adoring supporters when she declared a premature victory on election night on May 3. The song 'Titanium' by David Guetta blasted as the crowd whooped and cheered while she walked to the stage. When she got there she threw both hands in the air, declaring that 'hope wins'. 'I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose,' the lyrics rang out as Daniel danced on the stage. She thanked her supporters, adding, 'What we have achieved here is extraordinary'. But within hours, as the vote count continued, it became clear that Daniel's seat was still on a knife edge. Two days later, even after she had walked back her victory claims, Daniel was still in the dancing mood. The Teal MP shared a video of her all-female office dancing wildly to Chappell Roan's hit song Pink Pony Club. 'It's a resilience test that's for sure,' she captioned the video. 'But no matter what, we will keep dancing.' Liberal MP Tim Wilson first claimed victory on May 7 after several media outlets declared Goldstein in his favour. On Saturday, Wilson released a statement claiming victory, thanking Daniel and the Australian Electoral Commission. 'We won this year, because, despite bigger political headwinds, from 2016 to the present we always turned up and worked for the community, including during the three years I was not the local MP,' he wrote. 'Over a year ago I said this contest was about more than two candidates. It was a contest for the soul of the community, the Liberal Party and Australia. 'We ran a positive and hope-focused campaign that we are immensely proud of. Now it is time to project that hope and optimism to Australia.' At the end of his statement, Wilson addressed those who had doubted him. 'Finally, to those that said taking back Goldstein was improbable and likely impossible in over three years, and to Liberals across Australia who doubt our future electoral prospects, I have four words: It can be done,' he said.

Liberal Tim Wilson 'relaxed' as AEC orders partial recount in Goldstein
Liberal Tim Wilson 'relaxed' as AEC orders partial recount in Goldstein

SBS Australia

time26-05-2025

  • Politics
  • SBS Australia

Liberal Tim Wilson 'relaxed' as AEC orders partial recount in Goldstein

The election race for the Melbourne seat of Goldstein is heading to a partial recount, after its outgoing independent MP Zoe Daniel requested the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) to conduct a full recount of votes. Daniel lost her seat of Goldstein to Liberal Party's Tim Wilson by 260 votes, after a full preference count. The AEC declined the request for a full recount and will instead start a limited partial recount on Wednesday. The partial recount is expected to take up to four days, the AEC said on Monday. Daniel confirmed she had asked for a full recount, based on expert advice. "In light of the very tight margin and several errors picked up in the portion of the count that was included in the distribution of preferences, leading to unusual fluctuations and large numbers of votes moving to and fro in the final stages of the count, I have taken expert advice and asked the AEC to consider whether a full recount is appropriate," Daniel said. What is a partial recount? A partial recount will look at all the first preference ballot papers for Wilson and Daniel, as well as all informal ballot papers. A partial recount is more limited than a full recount, which would require the AEC to complete a full distribution of preferences. The AEC said a full recount was not necessary in its view. "We are satisfied that there was a very high degree of rigour throughout the distribution of preferences process," it said in a statement. READ MORE Independent Nicolette Boele edges ahead in traditionally Liberal seat of Bradfield Responding to the news, Wilson, who held the seat before Daniel's one term, said he looks forward to the conclusion of the partial recount. "We have been very relaxed about every count and recount to date in Goldstein, as we know the count will deliver the result that reflects the will of the people of Goldstein," he wrote on X on Monday morning. Could the results change? The results likely change once scrutineers re-examine the ballots, as it's commonplace to pick up corrections during a recount. While the 260-vote margin may change in favour of Daniel, she would need to overtake Wilson to maintain her seat. If the seat does flip to Daniel, she will join the teals elected from Sydney: Allegra Spender in Wentworth, Sophie Scamps in Mackellar and Zali Steggall in Warringah, along with fellow Victorian Monique Ryan, who has held the Melbourne seat of Kooyong .

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store