Based on the facts available at
this moment, consider the following :-
Total Population of Australia 2007 {CIA Factbook - supposedly
include transient residents} -
20,434,176
Total voters enrolled {registered}: 13,645,073
Participating Votes counted {up to this moment}:
9,739,944 - which represents 71.38% of the registered
electorate
or 47.66% of the
total Australian population for a Parliament consisting of the
Lower House with 150
seats, and a Senate consisting 76 seats.
Votes for Outgoing - Liberal/National Coalition: 4,537,511
representing: 46.59% of counted votes, or 33.25% of registered
voters, or 22.20% of population.
Votes for Incoming - Australian Labor Party: 5,202,433
representing 53.41% of counted votes, or 38.12% of registered
voters, or 25.46% of population.
Compared this data to the Singapore May 2006 Election:
Estimated Total Population of Singapore mid-2006:
4,484,000 consisting of:
Singapore Citizens: 3,145,800 {70.2%}
Permanent Residents: 462,700 {10.3%}
Non-Residents: 875,500 {19.5%}
Total registered electorates:
2,158,439 {68.59% of Citizens};
Total participating electorates:
1,222,884;
this number of participating voters represents 56.67% of registered
electorates, or 38.87% of Singapore Citizens,
or 27.27% of Total Population.
Votes to PAP - 747,860
which represent: 66.6% of counted votes, or 34.65% of registerd
voters, or 16.68% of total population;
Votes to WP - 183,604:
representing: 16.34% of counted votes, or 8.51% of registered
voters, or 4.095% of total population;
Votes to SDA - 145,902:
representing: 12.99% of counted votes, 6.76% of registered voters,
or 3.25% of total population;
Votes to SDP - 45,634
representing: 4.07% of registered voters, or 2.11% of registered
voters, or 1.02% of total population.
Singapore area of 692.7 sq km is way below 0.00009% of Australia's
size of 7,686,850 sq km; and Singapore's population of 4,484,000
constitute 21.94% of Australia's 20,434,176 - yet Singapore's
Parliament of 84 seats is 53% of Australia's Lower House.
The large number of Parliamentary Seats PLUS the Election Deposits
for each candidate nominated is meant to deplete the resources of
the Alternative Parties. As matters stand, legislations have been
passed by the Ruling Political Party to inhibit any would-be
financial contributions to Alternative Political Parties, as any
contribution are subject to close scrutiny - and obvious pressures
being exerted on known benefactors that dare generousely contribute
to the Alternative Parties.
Now that John Howard has lost his seat, and his coalition parties
have lost the election, the Australian institutions of government
need not be dismantled - as these are independent of political
parties, with no political appointees planted to look after the
interest of the incumbent ruling party.
At least, we have not heard of John Howard suggesting that the
Australian Armed Forces execute a coup de'tat in the event that a New
Political Party is to form the next government; and there is no
attempt by John Howard and his coalition government to prevent the
incoming Labor Government from utilising the National
Reserves.
The politics practised in Singapore is simply too personally petty,
and resemble that of Third World countries.
Is Singapore a First World Country ?
Not by a long shot judging by the political maturity of local
politicians - as much as they would have us believe that they are
the best.
