Anna Bligh, ALP Premier of Queensland has called an early election to be held on March 21 2009.

We need ads which talk about more than just fucking!

This image: A Fagmedia "election poster"! Should not Queer people vote for parties with a committment to intelligent multifaceted safe sex education programs and who remove our 2nd class citizenship by voting to implement legal relationship recognition for GLBTIQ people?

The election in Queensland is one to watch! Anna Bligh is seeking to be the first woman to be elected Premier in her own right. At the same time the ALP in Australia looks on the surface to have a virtual monopoly on government, with the only exception being Western Australia, but in reality it is possible that on March 21 we could see the first of the eastern states to fall out of the ALP´s grip!  

The result in Western Australia was one that should have rung alarm bells for the ALP. A supposedly all powerful (arrogant) premier called an early election which backfired dramatically! At the end of the day, the people did not  like seeing the election process being "manipulated" and highjacked by arrogance and this is reflected in the results of the ballot box!

Fagmedia is of the opinion that in the interests of a "fair go" for all candidates elections should be held at fixed term intervals! Fixed term elections allow "the will of the people" to be respected in full. All candidates for an election should have the same "preparation" time. Given that elections are in a sense a "race", calling an election early allows the ruling party the unfair advantage of being able to "jump the gun"! If "jumping the gun" is not allowed in athletic competition then why is it tolerated in election races?

Another aspect of this is that the election of Australia´s first female premier will be a landmark that will be celebrated as a win for the "sisterhood". It is worth asking, does Anna Bligh´s calling of the election early leave a "shadow on the history book" over the first woman´s win? Is winning so comsuming that how the race is run is of no importance? Would the win of President Obama be so exciting had there been a question mark over the election process?  Would it be better for the integrity of the history books if Ms Bligh were to fail in her bid for power? At the end of the day the voters of Queensland will be the judges of this matter!

But why has Ms Bligh seen fit to call an early election? It would seem the reason why relates to the fact that Queensland´s economy is now at the top of a slippery slope! Is Ms Bligh seeking to retain power now rather than fight an election capaign against an invigorated Opposition with the central debate being ecnomic management? So if you are a Queenslander voting on March 21, perhaps you should be considering how well you think the ALP have been managing the states money? After a period of boom is it not interesting that the cedit rating of Queensland has recently been downgraded?

At the same time a new challenge has entered the race, an environmental disaster that is the oil spill. Sadly, this spill was not prevented, nor contained while it was out at sea and now television news reports show that those people who should be quuickly organising the clean up are standing around arguing over who was responsible! How will this effect the ballow box?

For those people who wish to know more about this election the ABC has a summary of the election (here) with commentary by Anthony Green. The following quote is taken from that site!

After three consecutive crushing victories, the Queensland Labor government goes to the 2009 election facing a new political environment. For this first time in a decade, Labor lacks the beaming visage of former Premier Peter Beattie on its standard. The election will be fought on a new electoral map that has seen three seats moved to the urban south-east of the state. It will also be fought in a new economic climate as the mining juggernaut that has powered the state's economy for the last decade slows dramatically in the face of a global economic slowdown.

Fagmedia notes that Pauline Hanson is standing again for parliament. For information on her policies go here. We cannot say that we agree with her lack of support for GLBITQ human rights, but then what party really supports our rights?

The other party that is important to watch is the Greens. (here) This party does have a track record of being based on participatory democracy. Given the impact of global climate change would it not be good to have representatives in our parliaments with more than a lip service or passing interest in doing something to prevent what appears to be the looming catastrophe heading our way?

Is it not better to vote for honest independantly minded politicians, even if you don´t always agree with every little thing they say, than those other parties whose track records regularly change like the wind, i.e. breaking core promises and policy positions?

Queensland´s one house parliament, provides no house of review. It is therefore easy for the 2 major parties to swap governance backwards and forwards. Democracy is best served when there are more than just two dominating parties. If the Queensland Parliament has more than 2 parties holding seats after March 21, then regardless of the rhetoric from ALP and LNP, the real winner will be democracy and the people! As an independant organisation, Fagmedia is always happy when individuals are able to bring their often unique and innovative ideas to positions of governance.


Further, if you are voting in QLD, then do so with thought. Check out the policies of the candidates in your area. Remember, your vote does count! By the way, Australia should have been installing solar power 30 years ago so make sure you check out their (renewable) energy policies.