Judith Brett

Judith Brett provides a very readable historical account and analysis of the mechanics of the Australian electoral system, predominantly from the perspective of the voting public. She explores the debate around, and the development of, the secret ballot, preferential voting, (almost) universal suffrage, compulsory enrolment and voting, Saturday voting, and impartial election administration. She considers that the preparedness to accept compulsory voting arises from the view of the State as a show more public utility, charged with providing the greatest happiness for the greatest number, as opposed to a state which is granted authority by independent rights-bearing individuals.

She highlights that the Australian system is under ongoing review and re-evaluation, reflecting not only changes in technology and social mobility, but also the pressure brought from partisan groups seeking to manipulate the processes to their advantage. The existence of independent state and federal electoral commissions serves to provide uniformity of practices, and a resistance to such manipulation.

As a participant in election management for many years, I have valued the efforts to enfranchise the Australian population, and make the process of voting a community-building one. show less

Much to my astonishment, I was singing the praises of this book the other day, when it transpired that my friend did not know what a democracy sausage was. So for the edification of those unfortunate citizens who do not enjoy the same privilege as we do here in Australia, an explanation is in order.

Because we are almost unique in the world in having compulsory voting, and because impecunious state schools are very often the place for polling booths all over the country, and because show more enterprising Parents and Friends associations can spot a good fundraiser when they see one, it has become routine practice for there to be a sausage sizzle so that voters can assuage their hunger pangs in a worthy cause. Indeed on election day there is a dedicated website where you can even scout around for the best democracy sausage options. They don't all offer fried onions or chilli sauce, you know, and some of them have a cake stall as well!

Here is the link to Wikipedia with pictures! Visit my blog to see the democracy sausage map: There are even democracy sausages overseas, the most famous of which is at Australia House in London. (See the video here).

But how has this come about? Indeed, how is it that we take compulsory voting so much for granted that it has taken Judith Brett's lively new history to make me aware of just how amazing it is that we are the only English-speaking country that makes its citizens vote?

Australians shake their heads in bemused dismay at the electoral shambles we've witnessed in the UK and US. Brexit just couldn't happen here. Here, at least when people vote and their side doesn't win, they can console ourselves with the knowledge that it's a democratic result. Compulsory voting means a referendum ignored by a huge cohort of voters but swamped by zealots would carry no weight at all and there could not be the same kind of divisive fallout that is tearing Britain apart because so many people are distraught at the result.

And because voting is compulsory here, the process has been made easy for us. Unlike the Brits, we only have to register to vote once which entitles us to vote in elections for all three levels of government, local, state and federal. The bureaucrats keep the electoral rolls up-to-date; we don't have to. Plus, whereas in Britain you need time off work on a Thursday to vote, we vote on Saturdays, which suits a majority of working people. Whereas in Britain you have to vote in your own electorate so too bad if you're away from home, we can vote wherever we are in the country, and outside of it, because we have absentee voting and postal voting. Yup, I'll be in New Zealand for our next election, but I won't miss out, because I can vote before I go!

To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2019/03/16/from-secret-ballot-to-democracy-sausage-how-... show less

A wonderful highly readable biography of Australia's second prime minister, whose contribution to Australia's development as a democratic society has sadly been largely forgotten. Alfred Deakin was an indeed an enigmatic individual, a quiet and thoughtful man who claimed to dislike politics, yet almost by accident found himself thrown into the fire as the great debate between free trade and protectionism which dominated Australia's first decade threatened to split the nation. Governments show more rose and fell on the floor of the Parliament as the still fluid party structure ebbed and flowed. Deakin found himself in and out of office as he gained the Prime Ministership on 3 separate occasions between 1902 and 1910, eventually forced to give politics away due to his failing memory and mental faculties, which would eventually kill him at a sadly early age. However, although the politics is fascinating the true heart of Deakin's story is his amazing inner life, which is wonderfully well documented due to his compulsive diarizing and note-taking. he comes across as a melancholy individual, highly spiritual although he disliked organised religion. He embraced Spiritualism early on, later moving to a more personalized individual faith, but struggled with questions of faith his whole life. Frequently depressed, he gained great solace from his marriage to Pattie, whom he loved deeply but secretly criticised in his diaries. He was torn apart by the ongoing feud between Pattie and his beloved sister, but found great comfort by taking refuge from his public life in the family's seaside cottage. I'm usually not enthralled with political biographies, but this is a superb read, about an interesting and thoughtful man who struggled conscientiously to do the best job he could for his young nation in difficult times. Highly recommended. show less

Alfred Deakin is known as one of the lead players in the federation of the Australian colonies/states. However, this book does a great job in describing so much about the life of Deakin, his early life in politics in Victoria, his engagement with spiritualism and religion, his relationship with his wife, his struggles with self-belief, and the political maneuverings in the early years of federation.