The other day I asked a friend to explain the political persuasions of the two major Australian political parties – Liberal and Labour. It’s as clear as mud really: the conservative Liberal party and the liberal Labour party. Liberals are the American equivalents of Republicans and members of the Labour party are what I know as Democrats.
I’ve got a lot to learn before November, when I will vote in my first ever mandatory Australian election. The current Prime Minister will be running for re-election, and as far as I know he’s liberal, or is it Liberal...
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Yes. It is confusing. Labor here, like the Democrats, are generally leftist, reformist and in favour of a mix of government and private enterprise. The so-called Liberals (in coalition with the country-based National party) are more right-wing, conservative and pro the private sector - like the Republicans.
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Btw, it is Labor, as spelt by the international labor movement (US spelling), not Labour as in the UK. (Yes, picky, I know.)
Looking forward to this blog, Belinda.
Welcome home!