The New Beast Arises

[kc]

Statistics!!!! Yes 8.6% average over the 4 seats. If we replicate this state wide it is about 180,000 votes. Fair to say some areas would be more and some less. The best news was the 8% in Brisbane.

So an 8% average vote would be enough to get a senate seat (along with some preference deals).

Makes for a very interesting next senate election.

A Fishing Party senator in Canberra would give the party both credibility and more importantly the resources to really put fishing on the front foot for a change.

This is now a realistic target. It appears from information I have been able to glean is that Family first averaged about 6.5% and this was on the back of significant media coverege. We got none as we were not a registered party. All signs are positive.

KC

[Loco_Pez]

TFPQ independents performed unbelievably well in the state election. Considering these guys came in with zero profile, compared to the major parties & greens, 8% is fantastic. Imagine how well they will go in the next election now that they have established more presence on the political landscape.

LP

[Luvinit]

I am happy to see the TFPQ results, but we should all be rather wary of extrapolating those into the future. There were a couple of issues that worked in our favour at the last election that may not be present again.

1. The very real and very imminent threat of MBMP closures proposed by AMCS
2. The overall disenchantment of the electorate with both the major parties causing people to actively search for somewhere to place their protest vote.

I was not surprised at the big increase in votes to independants and fringe parties nor was I surprised at how many of those votes exhausted rather than placing their preferences. Beattie's prediction of a protest vote DID eventuate but it DIDNT go to the coalition it just dissipated all over the place.

Regardless of whether we achieve a better result next time, the aim is IMHO to ensure that fishing interests receive reasonable representation and consideration in government. This can be achieved by just registering the primary vote and handing off preferences. All 3 major parties analyse the hell out of the voting statistics and a big primary vote for TFPQ will be noticed regardless of whether a senator is ever elected or not. I havent checked the stats for the other seats, but I noticed in Cleveland that TFPQ Shane Boese effectively negated the GRN vote. that should tell the people in power that pandering to the GRN vote will not necessarily do them any good because they'll lose just as many votes as they gain. the end result is that they should consider the views of all sides and make a reasonable compromise judgement on the issue. With a bit of luck that will mean real scientifically based management strategies to ensure sustainable and environmentally friendly USE of the fishery resource.

[Derek_Bullock]

Ok so who is telling the truth or are the papers telling lies and crap. The below was in yesterdays press.

Katter claims support for new political force

Independent MP Bob Katter claims to have support from minor parties in setting up a new political alliance.

Mr Katter, who is the member for the north Queensland seat of Kennedy, says members of Family First, One Nation and the Fishing Party have shown interest in forming a new alliance.

The former Nationals member announced weeks ago he was ready to unleash a new political beast.

He will not be pushed for details but says the alliance will not exactly be a party and does not yet have a name.

"We will create some sort of party type system, I can assure you that ... will not fall into the sort of hole that the current parties have fallen into," he said.

Mr Katter says political parties have ruined Australian farmers and producers.

"If we end up with exactly the same structure they have, which in Australia we call a party, then we will end up with the same outcome that there is now," he said.

"People have got to be allowed to exercise their conscience, listen to the people in their electorate. they don't want the silly stupid economic rationalism, competition policy, privatisation whatever you want to call it."

Mr Katter says there are already 16 potential branches for the alliance and that members of the alliance will come together under one badge and have the same policy goals.

"There will be a badging and there will be core principles, which you will sign and you will agree to vote on to move in the Parliament of Australia," he said.

"People will know where they are going and they will have an identification badge."

[Fisher_Boats]

Derek.. I think KC might be a realistic and Mr Katter an idealistic........

What press was it in ???

Col