Sunday, March 22, 2009

The Enigma that is Queensland


Anna Bligh has done it. She's won the Queensland election pretty comfortably in the end. Labor leads the state and the nation, still. Rudd breathes a sigh of relief. It shows his popularity is strong and his sober competence and so-called fiscal conservatism well regarded. At least in his home state.

Queensland is a funny place. It covers a huge and diverse geographic and ideological space. This is home, after all, to Joh Bjelke-Petersen, The Go-Betweens, Warrick Capper and the Big Pineapple. As well as some of the country's finest national parks, loudest greenies, toughest miners, best beaches and most horrendous beachside developments.

Arguably the most redneck state of all, they have voted in the country's first directly elected female premier. And she's Labor. Meanwhile, Hanson still manages to rakes in 20% of the primary vote in her electorate*. One might conclude there is a polarisation of opinion and a small middle ground. Based on such a superficial analysis of course.

* I suspect if those photos had proved to be her, she may have tipped 25%. Honk, honk. Know what I mean?

24 comments:

Perseus said...

The heat plays with the mind. One can't think straight in such heat. All results of anything in that state (political, sporting, chess) are influenced by sluggishness of the mind. It cannot be counted on as indicative of any national trend. You can see evidence of this in the way they all wear bright clothing. Ugh - orange.

Puss: Did you vote? Or do I have to dob you in to the authorities?

Boogeyman: Who'd you vote for?

Anonymous said...

Arguably the most redneck state of all

A very disputable argument. Having watched the news long enough, one can see that all states are fairly redneck, when you count the rural votes and the urban-slum bogans.


The heat plays with the mind. One can't think straight in such heat.

Says the guy from the state that has just recorded record high temperatures, and for most years is way hotter and drier than SE Queensland during the summer.

Of course I voted Labor. There's no way I could vote for Tories, or for the Borg to assimilate us all.

Besides which, Anna Bligh is not an unattractive woman. We now officially have the hottest directly-voted-in premier in Australia, so nyerr.

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

Queensland is also the only state to have elected a communist to Parliament (Fred Paterson in 1944, for those keen on historical trivia).

Anonymous said...

Of course, what I can't understand is why, as the third largest state in population terms, why Queensland has only a state government House of Reps, but no senate.

Although there are some who would argue that this is a good thing, having no "unrepresentative swill" to block legislation.

Lewd Bob said...

there are some who would argue that this is a good thing.

I would argue this. But I would argue more strongly for the senate to be a lot more representative of the electorate.

A very disputable argument

I knew this was a potentially inflammatory statement. But you're right Boogey, it is indeed very arguable: rednecks abound everywhere. Just drive more than 30 minutes from any capital city. Indeed, look within those cities.

The heat plays with the mind.

Also in the southern states of USA and, at least historically, Italy and Spain.

the guy from the state that has just recorded record high temperatures.

It's the constant heat of Queensland accompanied by the humidity. Our brains have time to heal during winter.

only state to have elected a communist

I rest my case.

Anonymous said...

SE Queensland is very different climate-wise from Northern and Western Queensland.

In fact, we should eject those parts of the state, have northern NSW secede and join us, and make Queensland a paradisical Utopia from the Sunshine Coast down to Coffs Harbour.

Northern and Western Qld can then go and join NT and Northern WA to make a great Northern redneck croc-huntin' roo-shootin' paradise. Southern WA and SA can combine and form a great SW berg/serial killer paradise.

Anonymous said...

Oh, and Southern NSW and Victoria can combine and finally stop arguing between themselves about who is bigger/more cultural/makes better lattes etc.

Perseus said...

who is bigger/more cultural/makes better lattes etc.

What argument?

Sydney is bigger.
Melbourne makes better lattes.

Oh we make better lattes.

I asked for a long macchiato in Cronulla last year and I was lucky I was a dinky-di Aussie whiteboy, otherwise they would have started SMS'ing their mates to come and savagely beat me.

Lewd Bob said...

Oh, we have better lattes but Sydney has a better default beer glass size.

Ramon Insertnamehere said...

but Sydney has a better default beer glass size

The drawback being, of course, that you have to drink Sydney beer.

And South Africa made 651!

How is that even possible!?

Lewd Bob said...

For 2 large, beer drinking cities, the quality of beer produced in both Melbourne and Sydney is very poor.

How is that even possible!?

Bryce McGain.

patchouligirl said...

The heat plays with the mind

I dont think they can be taken seriously until they bring in daylight savings.

Love your re-arrangement of the States Boogey.

Mad Cat Lady said...

dearie me
i don't know why they even let us vote

Louche said...

Who goes to Cronulla for coffee?

I doubt they make a decent ristretto in Moonee Ponds. Had you been in Darlinghurst however...

Perseus said...

One goes for a coffee the day after one has been to an engagement party in Engadine.

Engadine.

End of the world, that joint.

(Moonee Ponds has one good coffe place, but it's not in the main strip - which is the point of Melbourne. In virtually every suburn there's at least one good coffee joint. I've even found one in Croydon!)

catlick said...

"Meanwhile, Hanson still manages to rakes in 20% of the primary vote in her electorate*.
* I suspect if those photos had proved to be her, she may have tipped 25%. Honk, honk. Know what I mean?"


I heard the other day that having a baby can change the belly button from an innie to an outie and vice versa.
1. Is this possible?
2. Does this make Pauline's "it's not my belly button" "proof" weak?

Leilani said...

In my experience the belly button is only an outie during pregnancy. Once the baby's out it goes back in again.

Puss In Boots said...

You might need to dob me into the authorities anyway. I couldn't find anywhere to print out a postal vote application and fax it, so I had someone else do it for me from Australia, and forge my signature. And make up a witness signature with an Italian sounding name. When the postal vote form is sent, they're going to vote for me too.

Melba said...

Leilani, it depends on the person. My belly button never went out during pregnancy. I know sometimes they can pop out, but not always.

WitchOne said...

And they do always pop back in afterwards.

catlick said...

K. Thnxs for the research. If you were P.Hanson, what would YOU do with the $?00,000.00 I'm guessing she'll get?

wari lasi said...

No matter what you think of Pauline Hanson the newspaper should pay. Or the arsehole that sold them. But he's broke.

I wonder who the girl is? She obviously trusted whoever took the pictures.

It's all pretty crook stuff.

Melba said...

And then of course some people just have "outies" naturally. Which I think become even more out during late pregnancy.

I myself prefer an innie. The outies look untidy and somehow wrong.

Does anyone else have an aesthetic preference?

Natasha said...

I find belly buttons, on the whole (hur hur) intriguing things. Innies gather fluff, outies, I'm sure, don't - or if they do, they gather a lot less. I don't have an aesthetic preference - I think outies are kind of cute on children, but that could be simply because they're children and they radiate innocence (unless they just ate the cat food) and cuteness without even trying (unless aforementioned cat food consummation has occurred).