President Trump has imposed tariffs on imports from a lot of countries around the world - but for some reason has singled out Heard and McDonald Islands as a separate place to Australia on the list of "countries" affected. Who lives there? No one. Except penguins.So, what is a tariff? What is protectionism? And how will this affect the local penguin economy? Well, here's an explanation combined with a brief history of how protectionism was also central to Australia's inception and how it shaped our modern political parties, and also how we eventually decided to phase it out in favour of free t ..read more

It's time! The 2025 Australian federal election has been called for May 3! So get excited and get ready. Here's some useful information to know about enrolling to vote and researching candidates so you can be informed when you go to the polls and cast your ballot for the House of Representatives and Senate! HAVE FUN EVERYONE!Make sure you're enrolled/your details are up to date at: https://aec.gov.au/ Check voting records with theyvoteforyou: https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/Read speeches from the Hansard record here: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/HansardTry out ABC vote compass h ..read more

Advocacy groups, interest groups, and lobbying is all part of the democratic process. While the term "lobbying" often is associated with large corporations, it is a genuine thing that everyone is entitled to do - including small community groups, or you as an individual. How can smaller groups lobby for positive change with limited resources? To learn more I sat down via Zoom to talk to Emily from Equality Australia to ask her about how the process works. What methods are there to get in touch with the government, influence their decisions, and be part of the consultation process when it comes ..read more

Compulsory voting has been a part of Australian federal elections for a CENTURY, and even longer on a state level. For many, this is just an ordinary part of our election culture but for others they find this to be an imposition and disagree that it should be compulsory. So what are the arguments for and against compulsory voting? Is it necessary or should it be abolished? Here's a collection of reasons on either side for you to consider and examine yourself!Support the channel on patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/AuspolExplainedLike Auspol Explained on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/A ..read more

Elections are big undertakings! There are remote areas to reach, language barriers to overcome, and misinformation to fight. So I went to the office of the WA Electoral Commissioner, Robert Kennedy, to ask him about his role and all the work put in by the WAEC to make sure Western Australians can vote. Then I told him a bad knock knock joke.For information about WA state elections go here: https://www.elections.wa.gov.au/For information about federal elections go here: https://aec.gov.au/ Support the channel on patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/AuspolExplainedLike Auspol Explained on Faceb ..read more

State elections for WA happen every 4 years on the second Saturday in March so be prepared! Here's a handy explainer about how filling in the ballot for the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council works, what the two chambers are, and a brief explanation to the changes made after the previous election.Learn more about WA elections and find your local candidates at https://www.elections.wa.gov.au/ Support the channel on patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/AuspolExplainedLike Auspol Explained on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Auspol-Explained-107892180702388Auspol Explained would like ..read more

There's a wide range of political views in any society - so how do they get represented effectively in parliament? The answer: proportional representation! The Australian Senate (and most other upper houses in Australia) use a system of proportional representation to ensure more diverse political views are represented so it can better reflect the nuance and desires of the community. Here's a handy explanation of how that works and how it compares with other systems, like the UK.Support the channel on patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/AuspolExplainedLike Auspol Explained on Facebook: https ..read more

Australia's system of preferential voting is praised for making sure people can't waste their vote - but how does it work and how does it compare with other electoral systems? This episode compares preferential voting with first-past-the-post, which is used by the UK, US, and over a dozen other countries. What is first-past-the-post and why did Australia get rid of it over a century ago? The answer: because it changes who gets elected by using a different method of counting.Support the channel on patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/AuspolExplainedLike Auspol Explained on Facebook: https://ww ..read more

Australia is a constitutional monarchy because of the British - so what would happen if the British abolished their monarchy? Would that abolish ours? What happens to Australia if the UK no longer has a King? Well, here are two different options for what could hypothetically happen! Check out my interview with the Australian Republic Movement here: https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/aZP9H8c2iQb And also check out my interview with the Australian Monarchist League here: https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/iJo4D9c2iQb Support the channel on patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/AuspolExpl ..read more

Welcome to my two-part interview series! In this episode I sat down with the co-chair of the Australian Republic Movement, Esther Anatolitis, to ask her what the arguments are for an Australian republic and why we shouldn't stick with our system of constitutional monarchy. Of course to hear the other side of this discussion I encourage you to watch my interview with Alexander Voltz of the Australian Monarchist League: https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/HMdEUmUHZOb Learn more about the ARM here: https://republic.org.au/ Learn more about the AML here: https://www.monarchist.org.au/ Support t ..read more