Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is a right-wing Australian political party founded in 1944, currently led by Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
The Liberal Party competes for control of the Australian House of Representatives, Senate, and Office of the Prime Minister against the Australian Labor Party. It is in a semi-permanent coalition with the rural-based National Party of Australia—the coalition arrangement is so close, in fact, that the two operate virtually as one party, and in fact have already amalgamated in the state of Queensland and the Northern Territory.
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[edit] Political stance
Contrary to the American sense of the term "liberal", meaning "center-left," the Liberal Party is a centre-right or conservative party. When the party was founded in the 1940s, the word "liberal" referred to liberty, as opposed to communism. Now it is often mistaken as referring to the party's support of economic liberalism as opposed to liberalism in general. The enthusiasm of the Anglo-American right for deregulation has also taken hold in the Australian Liberal Party, although the Party has been unsuccessful in some of its initiatives, such as abolition of the publicly-funded Medicare system, or deregulation of industrial laws (the so-called "WorkChoices" legislation being an electoral disaster).
[edit] The not so "liberal" Australian party
The Liberal Party is not really "liberal" in either the UK or North American sense; it is pro-traditional marriage and pro-life, and generally takes conservative stances on most issues. By American conservative standards, the only things that could mark them out as being liberal are their support for Australia's system of universal health care, and their policies on gun control and freedom of religion. They are somewhat less avowedly Christian than the U.S. Republicans, reflecting the greater secularisation of Australian politics as compared to U.S. politics (although Liberal Party leader Tony Abbott is a right-wing Catholic who opposes abortion, and there are plenty of Liberal Party members who are virulently hostile towards Islam and Muslims).
[edit] Liberal Party wingnuts
Being a party that is moving further to the Right in recent times, the Liberal Party does have its fair share (and in increasing numbers) of wingnuts and crackpots. Below are a number of them who have or have had known associations with the Liberal Party.
- Tony Abbott (MP for Warringah, 1994-present. Prime Minister, 2013-
2016present): climate change denier, on record as saying that climate change is "complete crap". Also a religious zealot, a misogynist, and a homophobe. Australian equivalent to George W. Bush. - Cory Bernardi (Senator for South Australia, 2006-present): religious zealot. Climate change denier.
- Kevin Andrews (MP for Menzies, 1991-present. Minister for Defense, 2014-present): As above. Especially if comments from within his own party are anything to go by.
- Mathias Cormann (Senator for Western Australia, 2007-present. Minister for Finance, 2013-present): religious zealot and a bigot.
- Scott Morrison (MP for Cook, 2007-present. Minister for Social Services, 2014-present)
- Eric Abetz (Senator for Tasmania, 1994-present. Minister for Employment, 2013-present): Great-uncle was Nazi Party member Otto Abetz. Described an environmentalist campaign as "akin to treason".[1]
- George Christensen (MP for Dawson): Islamophobe, strongly anti-environmentalist, even labeling environmentalists as "terrorists".
- Campbell Newman (MP for Ashgrove (Queensland State, 2012-present. Premier of Queensland, 2012-prsesent): Anti-environment, anti-choice.
- Pauline Hanson: Once a Liberal Party candidate. Strong racist, climate change denier, and Islamophobe. Apparently not even the Liberal Party liked her as she got "dis-endorsed," then formed her own party of wingnuts.
- Joe Hockey (MP for North Sydney, 1996-present. Treasurer, 2013-present): Once claimed that "poor people don't drive cars" and that his "people will live to 150" as justification for budget cuts. Australian equivalent to George Osborne.
- Christopher Pyne (MP for Sturt, 1993-present. Minister for Education and Training, 2013-present)
- Geoff Shaw (MP for Frankston (Victorian State): 2010-2014): anti-abortion religious zealot. Not even the Victorian Liberals wanted him because of his extreme wingnuttery.
- Craig Kelly (MP for Hughes, 2010-Present): climate change denier known for his anti-carbon tax rants on social media.
- Luke Simpkins (MP for Cowan, 2007-present): Islamophobe.
- Andrew Laming (MP for Bowman, 2004-present): Climate change denier, and an islamophobe.
- Larry Pickering: Political cartoonist. One-time candidate for the Liberal Party in the 1980's. Racist, xenophobic, and a climate-change denier.
[edit] The Not-so-Insane Liberals
- Malcolm Turnbull: Practically the exact opposite of Tony Abbott; he's consequently more well-liked and respected by most voters. Acknowledges man-made climate change and found Abbott's anti-environmental policies to be "bullshit." Supports same sex marriage, stem-cell research, birth control access, therapeutic cloning, and abortion rights for women. Campaigns for a republican Australia, in contrast to the stridently monarchist in Abbott. Calls for a more cooperative stance towards China, contrasting Abbott's status as a lapdog to America. However, he destroyed a top-of-the-line National Broadband Network with an obsolete copper system, did not oppose Work Choices while working under John Howard; tacitly supports the racist asylum seeker deportation and detention policy; directed needless spending cuts against two of the most important news networks in Australia (ABC and SBS); stood for applause when Joe Hockey, once a moderate, unveiled his now-infamous budget plan; and toes the party line on economics. He will likely be forever remembered as "Mister Broadband," having annihilated Australia's internet service speeds.
- Wyatt Roy (MP for Longman, 2010-present): Supports same sex marriage, though believes climate change is "plausible".
- Malcolm Fraser (former Prime Minister): Was once a wingnut and depending on who you ask, has either become sane, or gone completely mad, in his old age.
- Kezia Purick [2]
- Sue Boyce (Senator for Queensland, 2007-2014): voted in favour of same-sex marriage, acknowledges the existence of man-made climate change, voting in favour of emissions trading.
- Judith Troeth (Senator for Victoria, 1993-2011): Voted in favour of emissions trading and acknowledges the existence of climate change.
- Barry O'Farrell (Premier of New South Wales, 2011-2014): Supports gay rights and same-sex marriage and supported the federal Labor government's education reforms.
- John Hewson (Former leader of the federal Liberal Party): Opposed participating in the War in Iraq and also criticized the growing influence of the hardline right within the party. Acknowledges the existence of man-made climate change.
- George Brandis: Yes really, even if it is just because he publicly acknowledges the existence of climate change.[3] Though he is nutty in other areas[wp], and has a nasty boot-stomping fascist streak.
[edit] Cory Bernardi
Before a vote on same-sex marriage in September 2012, Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi made the common slippery slope argument against the bill being passed. He linked social acceptance of homosexuality with acceptance of bestiality. While he did not recant his views in the face of media backlash, he did resign from his position. [4] He is also Islamophobic and a climate change denier.[5] His values and beliefs are very similar to those of teabaggers.
[edit] Footnotes
- ↑ Ferguson, Peter (September 2009). "Anti-environmentalism and the Australian culture war". Journal of Australian Studies 33 (3): 289–304. Template:Citation error.
- ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2014/nov/05/kevin-andrews-slammed-by-nt-politician-for-comments-on-de-factos
- ↑ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-19/people-who-dont-engage-climate-deniers-ignorant-brandis-says/5399820
- ↑ Bernardi resigns after bestiality comment,
- ↑ The male, Australian, Sarah Palin
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