Latest news with #JudithBrett
ABC News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Australia votes 2025 — what message should we take from this election result?
If democracy is the will of the people, what does this federal election result say about Australia? In his election night victory speech, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australians had voted for Australian values, claiming these were fairness, aspiration and opportunity for all. But is this right message we should take from the election result? This conversation was recorded live at the 2025 Melbourne Writers Festival in partnership with The Wheeler Centre. To explore more Melbourne Writers Festival talks, visit Speakers Judith Brett Political historian Author, The Fearless Beatrice Faust, Robert Menzies' Forgotten People, Australian Liberals and the Moral Middle Class, and The Enigmatic Mr Deakin, (winner, 2018 National Biography award) Cathy McGowan Former Independent MP for Indi Author, Cathy Goes to Canberra: doing politics differently Thomas Mayo National Indigenous Officer of the Maritime Union of Australia "Yes" campaigner in the Voice to Parliament referendum Author, Dear Son, Letters and Reflections from First Nations Fathers and Sons, Always Was, Always Will Be: The Campaign for Justice and Recognition Continues, and more Sally Warhaft (host) Interviewer, broadcaster, anthropologist and writer Host, The Fifth Estate event series at The Wheeler Centre Former editor, The Monthly magazine Author, Well May We Say: The speeches that made Australia Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, La Trobe University
Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
As Australia heads to polls, a look at ‘democracy sausages' and how it became tradition
As Australia heads to the polls today, it's not uncommon to see voters walking away from polling booths not just with inked fingers, but with sausages wrapped in white bread with onions and a dash of sauce. Called as the 'democracy sausage', this election day snack has become a fixture at polling places across the country. As voters queue up to cast their ballots, these sausages are served outside polling places, which are typically schools and community halls. During the 2022 federal election, sausage sizzles at polling stations raised an estimated AUD 4.1 million according to ABC News. A volunteer cooks sausages on a BBQ outside a polling booth at Sydney's Bondi Beach. (AP Photo) Let's find out more about the democracy sausage and why Australians are in love with it. Political identity or a joke? The democracy sausage has become a symbol of Australian identity. Voters often post photos with the hashtag #democracysausage. The ritual extends beyond Australia's borders, with Australians living abroad enjoying the tradition at embassies in cities like New York, Tokyo, and Nairobi, as well as in Antarctica. Political historian Judith Brett, author of From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage: How Australia Got Compulsory Voting, says the sausage appeals to the Australian sense of humour. 'Government didn't think it up, a political party didn't think it up as a slogan.' A man squirts sauce on his 'Democracy Sausage' at the Marrickville Public School in Sydney. (AP Photo) Websites to track sausages For decades, the tradition has transformed elections into gatherings, often helping to raise funds for local initiatives. What began as a small fundraising effort in the 1940s, blossomed into a nationwide phenomenon, gaining momentum in the 1980s when portable barbecues became more accessible. However, it was only in 2010 and onwards that the term 'democracy sausage' became more recognised. Websites like SnagVotes and started mapping polling places to let voters know where to find a sausage while fulfilling their civic duties. A volunteer hands a customer a sausage in a bread roll outside a polling booth. (AP Photo) Alex Dawson, co-founder of explains that the site was created in 2013 to help voters find these sizzles and make the most of their voting experience. 'It's something that binds everyone together,' said Dawson according to AP. Dawson's website tracks more than 2,000 polling locations across the country, offering details on food options, including halal, gluten-free, and vegan sausages. This year, the site also listed cakes, coffee, and burgers in some areas. Uber Eats stealing the sausage-spirit? This year, the tradition took a commercial turn when Uber Eats announced it would deliver 'democracy sausages' in selected areas of Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne. In a bid to make the sausage sizzle more accessible, Uber Eats teamed up with marketing company Maverick to offer sausages for AUD 11.60 according to The Guardian, which included delivery charges. From each sausage sold, AUD 3.50 went to charity, with the goal of raising up to AUD 10,500 for Red Cross partners. A worker hands a man a 'Democracy Sausage' at the Marrickville Public School in Sydney. (AP Photo) Despite the good cause, critics argued that the involvement of a corporate giant like Uber Eats undermined the community spirit of the tradition. 'That is so unAustralian,' one Facebook user commented as per The Guardian. Another said, 'It's a tone-deaf publicity stunt.' Uber Eats defended the initiative, with Managing Director Ed Kitchen stating that the company wanted to ensure more Australians could access the tradition, given that not all polling stations feature a sausage sizzle. 'For those of you able to make use of a local sausage sizzle, I strongly encourage you to support the community fundraising efforts first and foremost,' he said. Not just sausages—also swim briefs! At some polling stations, particularly in coastal areas like Bondi, voters have been known to show up in 'budgy smugglers' — tight-fitting swim briefs worn after a morning swim. In fact, one swimwear brand even offered free pairs to the first 200 voters who arrived in them, according to Reuters. People queue outside at a polling booth at Sydney's Bondi Beach. (AP Photo) 'It's a little bit revealing and may be confronting for some of your viewers. But a lot people here come out of the water and come and vote. I think it's a nice statement of Australian democracy,' said one voter from Bondi. In Australia, voting is compulsory, and failure to vote without valid reason results in a payable fine. The democracy sausage, while being a simple snack, represents a shared moment of community, a chance to connect with neighbours, support local initiatives, and — in true Australian fashion — enjoy a bit of humour while participating in the democratic process. One swimwear brand even offered free 'budgy smugglers' to the first 200 voters who arrived in them. (AP Photo) 'People said vote early but we wanted to come and get a democracy sausage,' said one voter as per Reuters. 'The perfect democracy sausage is one that's available,' said another voter in Melbourne. Preliminary counting of the election results begins immediately after polls close tonight. While unofficial results are often clear by the evening, official certification can take days or weeks due to hand-counting of nearly 18 million ballots—including postal and overseas votes.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
How compulsory voting works in Australia
Australians will head to the polls tomorrow to elect a new government. But the country's 18 million eligible voters won't just be going to pick their preferred candidate - they'll also be fulfilling a legal obligation. Since 1924, voting has been compulsory for all Australian citizens over the age of 18, with failure to vote carrying a fine of A$20 ($13; £10). Today, while many countries are struggling to get people to the ballot box, Australia boasts one of the highest voter turnouts in the world. The country's last federal election in 2022 saw ballots counted from around 90% of eligible voters, according to official statistics. For comparison, the voter turnout for the UK general election in 2024 was 60%, while the figure for the US presidential election in the same year was 64%. Compulsory voting has broad popular support in Australia, and is seen as a way to capture representation from the majority of society - not just the majority of people who choose to vote. Here's what you need to know about compulsory voting in Australia. You can be exempted from voting with a valid reason, but Australian authorities have put in place a variety of policies to reduce barriers to voting. For one, elections are held on Saturdays, when more workers will be free to go down to polling stations. Employers are also required to give workers paid leave on election day to ensure that people have enough time to go vote. An added incentive for people to perform their democratic duty are "democracy sausages", grilled on barbeques near polling booths. These snacks have become icons of Australian elections, often making them the largest fundraising events of the year for local schools and community groups. Voting became compulsory for federal elections when the Electoral Act was amended in 1924, and the effect was swift and stark: voter turnout surged from less than 60% in the 1922 election to more than 91% in 1925. A big argument for compulsory voting in Australia is the legitimacy it grants the election winner. "Proponents of compulsory voting argue that a parliament elected by a compulsory vote more accurately reflects the will of the electorate," reads a guide published by the Australian Election Commission. "Compulsory voting is claimed to encourage policies which collectively address the full spectrum of elector values," said the commission. On the flipside, it notes, compulsory voting also runs the risk of "pork barrelling" - the use of government funds for projects that will curry favour with voters - as parties focus on winning over voters on the margins. While there is no scientific consensus on how compulsory voting affects the policy issues championed by political parties, many believe it counters political polarisation by drawing out more moderate voters. Conversely, places without compulsory voting may see parties appealing to more extreme voter bases. "That means they can be tempted towards much more extreme political issues," historian Judith Brett told the BBC in 2022, when the last Australian federal election was held. "Whereas because everybody has to vote, in a way it pulls politics towards the centre." Compulsory voting also helps ensure that marginalised people are better represented, said Ms Brett. Research shows that people who are less affluent are also less likely to vote. "Now that means that politicians, when they're touting for votes, know that all of the groups, including the poor, are going to have a vote," Brett said. "And I think that makes for a more egalitarian public policy." Compulsory voting is fairly uncontroversial in Australia. National surveys since 1967 show public support for the laws have consistently hovered around 70%. Over the decades there have been individuals campaigning to end compulsory voting, arguing that citizens should have the right to choose whether to vote at all - but such calls have gained little traction among the wider population. In 2022, 77% of Australians said they would have still voted if it was voluntary.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
How compulsory voting works in Australia
Australians will head to the polls tomorrow to elect a new government. But the country's 18 million eligible voters won't just be going to pick their preferred candidate - they'll also be fulfilling a legal obligation. Since 1924, voting has been compulsory for all Australian citizens over the age of 18, with failure to vote carrying a fine of A$20 ($13; £10). Today, while many countries are struggling to get people to the ballot box, Australia boasts one of the highest voter turnouts in the world. The country's last federal election in 2022 saw ballots counted from around 90% of eligible voters, according to official statistics. For comparison, the voter turnout for the UK general election in 2024 was 60%, while the figure for the US presidential election in the same year was 64%. Compulsory voting has broad popular support in Australia, and is seen as a way to capture representation from the majority of society - not just the majority of people who choose to vote. Here's what you need to know about compulsory voting in Australia. You can be exempted from voting with a valid reason, but Australian authorities have put in place a variety of policies to reduce barriers to voting. For one, elections are held on Saturdays, when more workers will be free to go down to polling stations. Employers are also required to give workers paid leave on election day to ensure that people have enough time to go vote. An added incentive for people to perform their democratic duty are "democracy sausages", grilled on barbeques near polling booths. These snacks have become icons of Australian elections, often making them the largest fundraising events of the year for local schools and community groups. Voting became compulsory for federal elections when the Electoral Act was amended in 1924, and the effect was swift and stark: voter turnout surged from less than 60% in the 1922 election to more than 91% in 1925. A big argument for compulsory voting in Australia is the legitimacy it grants the election winner. "Proponents of compulsory voting argue that a parliament elected by a compulsory vote more accurately reflects the will of the electorate," reads a guide published by the Australian Election Commission. "Compulsory voting is claimed to encourage policies which collectively address the full spectrum of elector values," said the commission. On the flipside, it notes, compulsory voting also runs the risk of "pork barrelling" - the use of government funds for projects that will curry favour with voters - as parties focus on winning over voters on the margins. While there is no scientific consensus on how compulsory voting affects the policy issues championed by political parties, many believe it counters political polarisation by drawing out more moderate voters. Conversely, places without compulsory voting may see parties appealing to more extreme voter bases. "That means they can be tempted towards much more extreme political issues," historian Judith Brett told the BBC in 2022, when the last Australian federal election was held. "Whereas because everybody has to vote, in a way it pulls politics towards the centre." Compulsory voting also helps ensure that marginalised people are better represented, said Ms Brett. Research shows that people who are less affluent are also less likely to vote. "Now that means that politicians, when they're touting for votes, know that all of the groups, including the poor, are going to have a vote," Brett said. "And I think that makes for a more egalitarian public policy." Compulsory voting is fairly uncontroversial in Australia. National surveys since 1967 show public support for the laws have consistently hovered around 70%. Over the decades there have been individuals campaigning to end compulsory voting, arguing that citizens should have the right to choose whether to vote at all - but such calls have gained little traction among the wider population. In 2022, 77% of Australians said they would have still voted if it was voluntary.
