civics and citizenship 2025 y9 t4 midtopic

Constitutional Monarchy

A constitutional monarchy is a system of government where a monarch (king or queen) is the head of state, but their powers are limited by a constitution.

Respect

Treating others with consideration and valuing their views, beliefs, and rights.

Equality

Rights and privileges for all, without discrimination based on gender, race, religion, age, sexual orientation, or level of education. All citizens have the right to the same opportunities.

Fairness

All people are treated fairly, or without injustice, and are given equal opportunity.

Freedom

Rights, privileges, and responsibilities for all without interference, or control from other citizens or government.

Australian Electorate Commission

The AEC maintains an impartial and independent electoral system for eligible voters through active electoral roll management, efficient delivery of polling services and targeted education and public awareness programs.

Labour Policies (2)

1. $8.5 Billion Boost to Medicare

- Labor aims to make healthcare more affordable by increasing funding for Medicare, adding incentives for bulk-billing, and expanding urgent care clinics.

- Rationale: This improves healthcare access, especially for vulnerable groups, reduces out-of-pocket costs, and addresses the shortage of doctors.

2. 5% Deposit Scheme for First Home Buyers

- Expanding the scheme so all first home buyers can get government support with a low deposit (5%), eliminating income caps and place limits.

- Rationale: Helps more young Australians enter the housing market and reduces barriers like high deposits and mortgage insurance, promoting home ownership and stability.

Liberal Policies (2)

1. Permanent $30,000 Instant Asset Write-Off for Small Business

- The Coalition pledges to make this tax deduction permanent for businesses with turnover up to $10 million, encouraging reinvestment.

- Rationale: Supports small businesses to upgrade assets and grow, boosting productivity and job creation.

2. Access Up to $50,000 Superannuation for First Home Deposit

- Allowing first home buyers (especially women fleeing violence) to use up to $50,000 of their super to buy a new home; also providing tax deductions for mortgage interest on new builds.

- Rationale: Helps people overcome the deposit hurdle in buying homes, especially those in crisis, and encourages investment in new housing.

What happens in the weeks or months leading up to an election?

- Political parties and independent candidates work intensely to persuade voters to support them on election day.

- Public debates are held, often televised, where parties argue their platforms and try to convince voters they are the best choice for leadership.

- Opinion polls are conducted regularly. These polls show which candidates or parties are ahead and can influence how some voters decide, especially those who are undecided or “swinging” voters.

- Advertising is ramped up, including on billboards, in newspapers, on the radio, on TV, and online. Negative ads that highlight the opponent's weaknesses are common.

- Interest groups (lobby groups) campaign on issues important to them, encouraging people to vote for candidates that best align with those issues.

- Parties target important and topical issues that may sway voters, such as healthcare, employment, climate change, or economic policies.

Political persuasion

Persuasive techniques include catchy slogans, targeted advertisements, and campaign events that enhance the public image of the candidate or party.

- Negative advertising is used to damage the reputation of opponents.

- Politicians conduct face-to-face campaigning, attending community events and talking directly to voters.

- Campaigns are adapted to appeal to different demographic groups, considering their unique concerns and motivations.

How social media influences voters’ decisions

- Social media is now a major source of news and discussion, especially for younger voters.

- Politicians use platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube to reach large audiences, often at a lower cost than traditional media.

- Social media allows information (and misinformation) to spread rapidly and can go viral even if not fact-checked, sometimes resulting in widespread misconceptions about candidates or issues.

- Politicians and their teams can manage what information is shared, tailoring their message to match audience preferences and sometimes discrediting their opponents.

- Campaigns can use viral marketing strategies, relying on users to share and amplify messages.

- Social media aims to interact directly with voters, answer questions, and boost engagement, especially with the youth vote, which is less likely to be reached by traditional media.

- Social media provides an opportunity for lesser-known or independent candidates to gain visibility and compete on a more equal footing with major parties.

Factors that influence voter behavior

Advertising, public debate, media, party loyalty, opinion polls, important issues, interest groups

Media Influence

News, TV, radio, and online platforms shape public opinion. Media coverage may not be impartial. Can make candidates appear appealing or unfit.

Public Debate

Televised debates between opposing MPs. Showcase party platforms and leadership qualities. Aim: Convince public their party is best to run the country.

Important Issues

Short-term: personal or family concerns (e.g., childcare, parental leave). Long-term: national concerns like economy and environment. Voters choose based on which party addresses their priorities.

Advantages of the Preferential Voting System

The successful candidate has to achieve an absolute majority so all votes and 2nd votes and so on may be used, preventing vote wastage; Preference allocations allowing people to have their other choices and views represented

Disadvantages of the Preferential Voting System

Very complex system, that is often found difficult to complete; Very hard to count and recount votes; Donkey votes can become more occurent as people may not understand the voting process, or just not care, creating an unfair resultp; Promotes a ‘two party system’ that is detrimental to minor parties and independents

Advantages of the Proportional Voting System

Fair and democratic; Share of seats by parties and independents will be close to their share of the vote accurate representation; Eliminates vote wastage, prevents electorate manipulation and imbalance; More likely to encourage nomination of more diverse range of candidates – more women and people from minority groups are elected under proportional voting

Disadvantages of the Proportional Voting System

Leads to weaker relationship between voters and representatives; Less likely one party or coalition will gain majority of seats and minor parties likely to hold ‘balance of power’; Final distribution of preferences can create a ‘lottery’ for last quota between several parties or independents, none of whom achieved a quota in their own right