Anti-vaxxers are winning local elections across Western Australia
Anti-vaxxers are winning local elections across Western Australia
Without much ado, a network of conspiracy theory-promoting councillors were elected across Western Australia last month.
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I mean, my local couciller won on a platform of wanting to arrange after school care for kids at the local primary school. It doesn't take a lot at the local level. Nor can anyone at that level do all that much harm.
Best case, these people get genuinely into their roles and find out what issues face local governments (Hint: It isn't vaccines).
Worst case, they are completely nuts and vote against everything because it isn't about vaccines. But there are usually 8 councillers on the council and they can reign that sort of thing in.You should read the article.
You say this like I haven't. I have.
I basically said three things:
- The bar to getting elected as a local councillor in WA is not high. But you probably didn't know that given that you aren't in Australia, let alone WA.
- I hoped that these people would have their eyes opened to what issues exist at local council and get into their new roles. I won't apologise for hoping the best in people.
- If they are crazy, there are existing checks and balances against a rogue councillor. Something I know, because I've actually briefly worked at a local council in Perth.
You say this like I havenβt. I have.
Yeah, because you seem to ignore the part where they explain they don't really care about school stuff, they seek legitimacy. ( your point 1 )
From the article :
to use councils as a springboard to state and federal politics.
Guess who did this ? US republicans. They started low, gaining a seat here, or there. Then they gained a seat as a more important council, rinse and repeat, and they reached the highest council of their area.
About your point 2. If they are smart and not rushed, they will be very effective. And at the next elections, they will support others people. Hey those dudes are good, and they support X, X must be good too, and we reach your point 3
A rogue element, can be shunted. But what if the majority goes rogue ? It can't.
They are dangerous and need to be watched.
I appreciate that you are worried on our behalf, and even agree that there is precedent of local councillors moving to higher party politics - David Michael was a councillor of Stirling when I worked there, so I know this first-hand.
What you likely won't know though is the galaxy of differences between Local and State politics in WA:
- The parties don't exist at the local level. Councillors certainly have platforms that may be compatible with ALP/LNP/Green policies, but the parties themselves are not represented.
- Local Elections in WA are not compulsory. You can get elected to a ward with 2,000 votes. Once you get to the state level, everyone votes, and your 2,000 votes are a drop in the ocean.
- It is extremely difficult to get elected to the Legislative Assembly or Federal Parliament without the support of a party. As awful as that fact is, the vetting process to get preselection will weed out the nutters. You can get a senate seat on a fringe platform, usually with some hilarious preference deals. That's how Family First became a thing in the first place. A senate seat isn't going to introduce legislature, though.
- The article doesn't mention schools or education, because in Australia this is not handled at the local level. You're correct in that they have a specific agenda - but neither education nor health is not handled by LGAs. I don't want to entirely dismiss these people as being unable to do anything too nefarious, but well, I honestly can't see what real harm they can do.
- If the majority of a council goes rogue, the minister will step again in as David Templeman did to City of Perth a few years back. Coincidentally, the present LGA minister happens to be David Michael - who knows all about how an LGA should perform.
Ok, it seems to work like in France. Thank you for your answer.