In the next month when everyone will become a political pundit we think it’s wise to bring some science into how we all actually vote.
By measuring how politicians have previously voted on climate change we have our best predictor of how they will vote in the future.
Where candidates have no track record we can refer to we have measured their commitment to potential climate legislation (with a survey).
By looking at how the voting system works and at previous political situations (i.e hung parliaments and minority governments) we have a good indicator of how to make your vote count for climate.
Minor parties and independents are the checks and balances democracy needs- but they have to be the pro-climate ones
How do we know who these small parties or independents will join (to give a winning number of seats) in the event of a ‘hung’* parliament?
We don’t. This is why the 3rd part of your vote is so important. If those parties that FAILED TO ACT have a large ‘swing’ against them it will hopefully be impossible for them to get a majority even with the help of those small parties/independents. What’s more it would be seen as a betrayal by these new MPs of their platform and their electorate’s mandate of climate action.
How do we know these small parties or independents will vote to support climate action legislation in the event of the subsequent ‘minority’ government?
We don’t. This is why we have rated them on past action and their climate commitment survey response. This is also why the 3rd part of your vote is so important once again. If those parties that FAILED TO ACT have a large ‘swing’ against them they should hopefully have insufficient numbers to prevent pro-climate legislation going through. Finally we will be relying on the minor parties and independents to force the major party in power to proceed with ambitious climate legislation ASAP in the new government. They will owe their power to those minors and independents and it will be their chance to ‘pay them back’ (not to mention reward those voters who supported them in spite of their previous ‘hot and cold’ record on pro-climate legislation).
*what is a hung parliament?
Australian parliaments are modelled on the Westminster system, with a hung parliament typically defined as a lack of a lower house parliamentary majority from either the Australian Labor Party or Liberal/National Coalition.
After a general election the party that holds a majority of the 151 seats in the House of Representatives normally forms government. By convention the Governor-General commissions the person who holds the confidence of the House as Prime Minister to lead the government. Normally there is no problem in identifying this person as he or she is the leader of the political party which holds a majority of seats on the floor of the House.
The 2010 election is remarkable for its close result, with neither of the major parties reaching the required 76 seats in the House to form government. This is known as a hung parliament. The Australian Constitution does not specifically deal with the situation of a hung parliament. According to constitutional experts, hung parliaments are resolved by a set of unwritten rules or conventions inherited from the United Kingdom.
The 43rd Parliament
Following the 2010 election, three of the non-aligned independents together with the Australian Greens member decided to support a Labor minority Government, agreeing to ensure supply and to oppose no-confidence motions initiated by others. This provided the Labor Government with majority support in the House of Representatives. Progressive climate legislation was passed and Australia’s emissions rapidly started to decrease.
“We MUST respect this earth - it is all we have
Claudio Dametto - South Australia
“I will always Vote to Preserve Our World.
Liam McGregor - Western Australia
“A simple message that even a politician can understand
Felicity Crombach - Victoria
“Please show you care about our future generations!!
Phil Harmer - New South Wales
“Save our world , Life & health before profits.
Kerry Lillian - New South Wales
“Close down all coal mines and Do not mine gas . Make these Companies
Daniel Johnson - New South Wales
“We want carbon free energy!
Edan Clarke - New South Wales
“Feels good to be taking a voter action step
Beaver Hudson - New South Wales
“Great Initiative. Let’s Hold elected officials Accountable to their bosses, us!
John Paul Posada - New South Wales
“We need actions not words we need honest democratic govt We need a pm
Bob Pearce - South Australia
“Thank you for this great resource. I was feeling helpless. Even this small step
Silvia Anderson - Victoria
“If political parties continue receiving political donations, we will rarely have politicians working for
Dan Chicos - New South Wales
“I only vote for people who will take urgent action to restore a safe
Susie Burke - Victoria
“Current government is not representing the opinion of the majority of Australian to meet
Neil Price - Tasmania
“We are fighting to rescue our kids' future from those who seek to steal
Vanessa Norimi - Queensland
“No time to waste Now or Never My vote is for NOW
Rosalie White - Victoria
“I am only 9 but I already care
Ava Bell - New South Wales
“From New Lambton Uniting Church - Caring for our world is a moral imperative.
Niall McKay - New South Wales
“Our federal govt is an International climate Embarrassment - its about time they stepped
Oriana Tolo - Victoria
“Vote earth this time!
Sue Cooke - Queensland
“We are in one on the wealthiest countries in the world. we have the
rowan huxtable - New South Wales
“The climate Emergency is the public health opportunity and urgent priority of the 21st
Mike Forrester - Victoria
“If they want my vote they better act now
Barbara McNiff - New South Wales
“We need to act locally now for the earth. Our only home. Vote Earth
Anne Miller - New South Wales
“I often look at the places I've known all my life and see how
Jim Baird - New South Wales
“Strike one For people power!!! Democracy might prevail outside the current cronyism that faces
Lorraine Bridger - New South Wales
“Our federal politicians Are Afraid to make action on climate change a major election
Jennifer Martin - New South Wales
“climate election, let's go!
Fahimah Badrulhisham - New South Wales
“Great to see this website that is a focus on action for climate change
Lynette Sinclair - New South Wales
“Let’s show politicians and the Murdoch media that climate change is by far the
Jane Aitken - Australian Capital Territory
“If you want to stay in power You need to take action to stop
Jane Bulter - New South Wales
“We are all that stands between terminal climate change and the vulnerable. We are
Carol Khan - Queensland
“We need a Government that Believes this is real and not taking money from
Ken Gray - New South Wales
“I'm voting for my childrens future
Anneliese Alexander - New South Wales