Auspol Explained

Here's a handy guide for you on how to fill in the two ballots for a NSW state election, and why they're different. I'll also explain how NSW has optional preferential voting and how that works. As always: who you vote for is up to you!   Learn more about voting and NSW state elections at the official electoral commission website: https://elections.nsw.gov.au/    Support the channel...

The Government is the winning party at an election, but what about everyone else in Parliament? Well, the second largest group is the Opposition, led by the Leader of the Opposition, and they have an important role: hold the government to account and put forward an alternative idea for government in the aims of winning more seats at the next election. But how do they achieve that? How can they exe...

While the average age of Members of Parliament hovers around 50, there are many passionate young people who are interested in politics and want to have their voice heard - so I sat down with the current youngest member of Australia's Parliament, WA Labor Senator Fatima Payman, to talk about young people in politics. How can young people get more involved? What advice is there for both people who w...

January 1st, 1901 - the day of federation. Australia becomes a country, a nation in its own right, and while there's still a lot more to its journey to becoming fully independent - this is a pivotal moment in Australian history where the federal government was formed, the constitution was written, revised, and tested by the public, and the public rallied behind the idea of uniting as a nation.&nbs...

Sir Earle Christmas Grafton Page was the second shortest serving Prime Minister of Australia, but he has had a long lasting impact on Australian politics. In this episode I'll talk about why he has such an interestingly festive name, the beginnings of the Coalition, and how he became the first Country Party member to become Prime Minister - despite the fact that they had way less seats than other...

Australia has had 31 Prime Ministers thus far - but how many of them share a name? Well, you'll be surprised just how incredibly popular one name is compared to every other. Yes, this is a bit of a silly one but there's a few fun facts in there about names.  There's a few minor sound glitches, so I'll have to check my lapel - but one fun thing that didn't make it in the edit due to sound prob...

What is party membership and what does it involve? Political parties are way more than just Members of Parliament but are actually made up of hundreds (if not thousands) of people coming together to support an idea or cause. Membership is valuable to you as a person in how it gives you a voice and important to shape the party itself - but don't just take my word for it. I sat down with people from...

This episode is all about how to fill in the ballot for the Victorian state election! I won't be telling you who to vote for or analysing policy, that's up to you - the voter - to decide for yourself. Instead I'll be explaining why there are two ballot papers, how the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council of Victoria are different, when voting happens, how to fill in your ballot correctly,...

Politicians love having the questions in advance so they can give clear and prepared answers that include the preferred messaging and sound bites. Instead of that: I've turned it into a quiz-show where I'll be drawing random questions. Will Jordon go for the easy option? Or will he choose the MYSTERY BOX?   Welcome to a new series I'm trying out. Name suggestions are welcome.   Support t...

When the pandemic started the Prime Minister, Premiers, and Chief Ministers got together to form the National Cabinet. But what is it and how does it operate? What is the legal and constitutional basis for the National Cabinet? In this episode I explore its purpose and examine the shared responsibilities when it comes to health, vaccines, borders, lockdowns, quarantine, which things are federal or...

What do politicians do once they've been voted out? What kind of pension do politicians get, if any, and what kind of jobs do Members of Parliament go on to have? In this post-election episode I dive into the kind of benefits they do/don't get as well as discuss the broad possibilities and highs and lows of life after politics getting new work.   Support the channel on patreon here: https://w...

It's officially OVER! The writs have been returned, the counting has concluded, and we now know the final composition of the House of Representatives and the Senate! So what are the results, what do they mean, and how easy will it be for Labor to pass bills into law with such a large crossbench? Here's a breakdown of the numbers and a few interesting facts along the way!   Thank you for your...

Well, it's time to look forward to what's next for Auspol Explained! I hope you're all recovering from the post-election holiday. I'm excited to make more episodes soon but I just gotta say thank you 100 times to everyone new and old, and talk about my schedule and hopes going forward for SEASON TWO (a new season for every Parliament - so I guess we'll see season 3 in about three years from now)....

What happens if no one wins a majority of seats in Parliament? Answer: they need to start negotiating. Is a hung parliament a big deal? Well, depends on who you talk to. The thing is, we've been finding ways to avoid it most of the time for the past 100 years - while this is actually pretty normal for other countries around the world.   Support the channel on patreon here: https://www.patreon...

What are the similarities between Labor and Liberals on refugee policy and boat turn backs? Will any of the main parties end indefinite detention for asylum seekers? Here's a policy comparison for the 2022 Australian Federal Election for the Liberal-National Coalition, Labor, Greens, and One Nation so you can see who is promising what when it comes to how we look after refugees, how many we take i...

Parties can't choose your preferences - only the voter can. This is a myth, but it's based off something that did exist in the past, just hasn't since before the 2016 Senate election. It was called a Group Voting Ticket and was abolished. It also has been removed from almost every single state election as well. In this episode I explained how it used to work, why it was like that, and how parties...

Is voting for someone who won't win a waste of time? No! Because preferential voting exists! Here's how preferential voting works and how it allows you to vote according to your personal opinion of who you like best, while still having your views shape who ultimately does get elected in the end. Preferences mean you can vote for a minor party or independent in the House of Representatives/Legislat...

What are the different tax policies of the political parties in Australia? Will taxes be cut under the Liberals, or will they go up - and for who? What if Labor wins, will there be more tax cuts? And how many billionaires are there for the Greens to raise taxes on? What is One Nation promising on the GST?  All these questions and more will be answered in this policy comparison for the 2022 fe...

House ownership has been declining for decades, with many people no longer believing they'll ever own a home. Saving for a deposit takes a first home buyer around 11.5 years, and in that time housing has gone up drastically. So what are the plans for housing affordability that the different parties are promising? What will the Liberals, Labor, Greens, or One Nation, do to help you afford a house?...

Climate change is one of the biggest issues, if not THE biggest issue of this election. But what will the different political parties do about climate change? What will the Liberals/Nationals, Labor, Greens, and One Nation want to do and what are their policies? Here's a handy comparison to help you before you go to vote! Australia's gas emissions have actually been rising overall - so if this is...

What are the different parties' stances on a Federal ICAC? What will Liberals, Labor, Greens, or One Nation do to tackle government corruption? Here's a quick policy comparison for you to understand what policies are for the better known parties. Who wants to establish an anti-corruption watchdog and who doesn't?   Get official information on elections/voting at: https://aec.gov.au/  &nb...

What do the different political parties stand for? What are the major, minor, and micro parties promising this election? Well here is a few dot points for EVERY SINGLE FEDERALLY REGISTERED POLITICAL PARTY IN AUSTRALIA! Some are very straight forward and some have vast and complex policy platforms that I could only fit a fraction of in this episode.   This is a summary of a few key issues - wi...

Unsure who to vote for and don't know where to start? Here's some basics for figuring out on your own terms how parties align with your interests - and start learning who to support. I won't tell you who that is, or suggest any party to vote for, that decision is entirely up to you.   Resources mentioned in this episode include:  ABC Vote compass: https://votecompass.abc.net.au/   T...

How do you vote in an election? Well! Here's a 7 step guide from finding a polling place, to how to fill in a ballot for the House of Representatives and the Senate, and why the two are different. I'll also explain the basics of preferential voting - so you know how your vote works, why you should vote for who you want to, and how you can't throw your vote away!   Support the channel on patre...

What are the differences between the minor parties? If you're considering voting for a minor party, which one? While there are many, I've chosen to compare Adam Bandt's voting record with Pauline Hanson's and Craig Kelly's to show you the difference between a left wing and right wing minor party voting record, and also show you how you can learn more information about members of parliament and wha...