South Australian election - March 20, 2010

The South Australian election will be held on Saturday March 20, 2010.

The South Australian Parliament has constitutionally fixed four year terms with the election date set for the 3rd Saturday in March every four years. Elections are being held for both the House of Assembly and the Legislative Council. . .

The Legislative Council (upper house) has 22 members representing the whole State who are elected for a term of 8 years. Half of the Legislative Council members (11) are elected by all voters at each general election

The House of Assembly (lower house) has 47 members each representing one electorate or district who are elected for a term of 4 years.

Currently the ALP is in government, led by Premier Mike Rann. The Liberal Party is in Opposition, led by Isobel Redmond.

Christian Values Checklist

The Australian Christian Values Institute (of which we are a part) has prepared a Christian Values Checklist for the SA election. There are 21 questions about key moral and ethical questions - political parties are rated according to their policies, voting record and other factors.

This is a vital aid in helping Christians know what the political parties are about - if you live in South Australia, please print it out, copy and distribute it at your churches and to your friends (and anyone else!)
If you don't live in SA please send this email to Christian friends in SA!

There are two versions of the Christian Values Checklist - a full colour version which looks effective on the internet - plus a black and white one for photocopying.
They are also posted on the ACVI website - click here. A high-resolution colour version is also posted there.

One comment regarding the South Australian Checklist
One change - our colleagues in SA have told us that the Liberals in SA haven't actually decided what their policy is on whether or not they support allowing R18+ computer games... they say they will decide after the national review - ie after the election... whereas the Checklist gave them a 'tick'.

Contacting your OWN candidates

Naturally it's also important for you to contact the candidates standing in your electorate and ask them some questions as well! For a list of all candidates by electorate - click here. 

If you don't know your electorate...

click here for a page on the AEC website that enables you to "check your enrolment"  - type in your name and address and click "Verify Enrolment". This will give all your federal, state and local electorates!

Information about the election

The South Australian Electoral Commission website has all the details about the election - click here.
This includes information on voting, electoral districts, the electoral process and so on.

The ABC has a website that lists a range of information about the election, including analysis by election commentator Antony Green.
For a list of all candidates by electorate - click here. 

One more thing...

Normally in the weeks leading up to an election people writing letters to the editor must provide their name and address.
A new law has been passed in South Australia that extends this, requiring anyone making an online comment about the election to publish their real name and postcode! It was supported by all the major parties.

Whilst some are objecting to this as an infringement of their 'rights', nobody has a right to spread malicious gossip and tell lies with anonymity. That is a very real and growing danger at any time on the web, but more so at the time of an election. Such moves by governments should be seen as a reasonable safeguard. Everyone needs to know that what is disseminated through the web is accurate and that people can be held accountable for their comments.

However, almost immediately after the law was passed, the outcryfrom internet users resulted in the Premier announcing that he would repeal the law - retrospectively!

Independent candidate in SA

One independent candidate for the SA Legislative Council, Trevor Grace, is making a brave stand on the matter of abortion. He's formed a group called 'Save the Unborn' - he has been criticised, his posters have been torn down and his supporters attacked. See his website - and media report here.
If you live in South Australia, please consider supporting him by voting for him as an Upper House candidate.

FamilyVoice Australia survey

FamilyVoice Australia has surveyed all candidates in the South Australian election, asking all candidates TEN questions on a range of moral issues. Candidates are scored from 0 to 10 for each question.
Answering 'Yes' scores 10, Not answering scores zero, a definite 'No' scores 2, 3 for 'Unlikely' and 5 for 'Unsure'.
Click here for their Questionnaire.
The results for the House of Assembly candidates: click here.
The results for the Legislative Council candidates: click here.  
Many candidates don't answer individually - Family Voice has rated the Liberal Party after they provided a written response, and rated the Labor Party after being given their 2009 Platform. Labor receiving 40 out of 100 and the Liberal Party getting a score of 52.

Emily's List Candidates

The Life Network, a national pro-life organisation, has posted on its website a list of all the candidates in the SA and Tasmanian elections who are members of Emily's List.

According to the Emily's List website, their aim is "getting more progressive Labor women elected to Parliament." The group provides funding to such women - but these must be 'pro-choice', in other words in favour of abortion, in order to 'qualify'.

If you're voting in the South Australian election, you need to know which candidates are members of Emily's List and what this means. Life Network says "This group is having a huge impact on the promotion and progression of abortion in Australia today. We need to act to ensure this is stopped. If you are in SA, please do not vote for the women listed."

EMILY's list South Australian Candidates:
Adriana Christopoulos -  Fisher
Mary-Lou Corcoran - Finniss
Viv Maher -  Mount Gambier
Grace Portolesi -  Hartley
Vanessa Vartto - Unley
Lyn Breuer - Member for Giles (House of Assembly)
Gail Gago - Member of the Legislative Council
Robyn Geraghty - Member for Torrens (House of Assembly)
Stephanie Key - Member for Ashford (House of Assembly)
Jennifer Rankine - Member for Wright (House of Assembly)
Gay Thompson - Member for Reynell (House of Assembly)
Leesa Vlahos - Taylor