the troubadour

The snap poll just after the Australia Day holiday would suggest so.
There was no need to call an election before the end of February or early March. Indeed it could have been held off till early June.

The ploy could well backfire will voters angry to be forced to think politics during the holidays. What it does show is nerves on the part of the Conservative government of Campbell Newman.

In fact Newman's own seat is under threat . Quite a turn around from the sweeping victory that almost wiped out opposition Labor ranks. LNP holds 73 of the 89 seats in Parliament.

Shows the fear even in spite of such overwhelming numbers that the Conservatives hold as well as how far they have fallen in the popularity rankings to have such angst.

Still a tall order to topple this generally disliked party. I expect they'll be back at greatly reduced number. A little more humble? We shall see.

jad n rich

Pain in ass timing. We wont be here, in USA, then moving anyway, but on electoral roll here, so we all have to do absentee vote or something? to avoid mass 'you are being fined for not voting mail ' and subsequent replies to letters .... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

the troubadour

If out of the country you could plead ignorance. The fine isn't great but hardly something you need.

Expect some will consider the effort to vote worth it to remove a very unpopular government.

Pollyana

https://apps.ecq.qld.gov.au/declarat...g/default.aspx

jad n rich

Was thinking of that BUT, if they send the forms and they dont arrive in a few days we will already have left.

Edit: rang them. Post vote not likely to arrive by our departure date. Early posting booths not open till 19th. Solution they put a note why son cant vote. But I according to them are not enrolled, several searches by them and me, despite having voted in QLD before.

EC cant fine me, I dont live in QLD, I dont exist in Australia, lets go with that LOL.

Pollyana

But at least you can print off that you applied for postal and it didn't arrive in time. Then when they try to fine you, you send them the printout of the application, and your flight itinerary - and the forms too if there is a dated postmark on the envelope.
Shows you tried, they then can't argue.

First election I was supposed to vote at was called the day I left the country, I just sent them my itinerary, showed I couldn't have done anything about it.

Alfresco

Ok, here's a question...

I do my citizen ceremony on Australia day, will I still need to vote in this sudden election i.e. how long will it take to get on the electoral role etc...?

Not that I want to vote necessarily, but I have to by law. A bit worried.

jad n rich

They will probably ask you what time?

Seriously they just asked me what time I leave australia, 6.30 am, too early for early polling booth, son excused, me missing in Action.

Pollyana

They will give you forms on the (ceremony) day, to fill in and send off, to get on the electoral roll. But you can also register online, as soon as you are a citizen
Enrol to vote - Australian Electoral Commission

Swerv-o

The registrations for this election will have already closed by then. You're off the hook for this one!


S

Alfresco