Can an Australian here explain something to a non-Australian...

[sonicx]

Why are Labour in control of all the states but shutout federally for a decade?

[foreigncorrespondent]

1. Firstly...

...it is Labor! No u in it.

But to answer your question it is simply because the morons keep voting for the Liberals. They believe that under a liberal federal government they will manage to keep the interest rates low. And especially with the last election.

They saw Howard promise to keep them down, so they thought beautiful and voted for him. Now they find themselves faced with forced AWA's and Industrial Relations reforms that are actually going to be taking the money they save in interest.

The sad part is, we all suffer right along with them, for their fucked up views. Just like in America!

[Matilda]

2. Some pundits put it down to the "Daddy and Mummy" theory.

The reasoning goes that people look to a Federal Government for the "Daddy" issues - economic
prosperity, foreign policy, internal security, but they expect the states to look out for the
"Mummy" issues like health and education. And people seem to believe that the Libs will deliver
on the economic front, but Labor is better at the social welfare issues. Therefore, the reasoning
goes, people look to the Libs Federally to take care of those big issues, and to Labor states
to deliver on core social issues.

There is some sense in that reasoning, but I don't know whether people really do follow that line
of thinking.

[Djinn]

3. I think it's partly the Mummy/Daddy thing

certainly seems to be the justification of those whom I know that have voted Coalition at Fed level and ALP at state level, I'd also put it down partly to a non official balance of power thing, usually in Oz the majority of states are run by whomever is in opposition federally which suggests Australians don't like given anyone absolute power (though that went out the window in the fed senate)

[biggles1]

4. I would agree mostly

with what the other two above have said. Howard has been successful for much of the same reasons as Bush. He inherited a very solid economic growth spurt (the Oz economy has now been growing steadily since '91), but now stands idly as our deficit blows out, plus he has positioned himself as Australia's 'guardian', by being able to push the 'terror' buttons to garner support.

This, of course, is at odds with much of history. Far from an economic whiz-kid, Howard presided as Treasurer during Australia's WORST ever interest rate hikes ('82), and in terms of security, Australians have historically turned to Labor to steer them through periods of major conflict (World Wars).

[Generarth]

5. Beazley

That's all you need to know.