As Australia gears up for the next federal election, understanding the local lingo is crucial to navigating the campaign trail. From rorts to donkey voting, here’s a primer on some of the most important terms you need to know.
In Australia, federal elections bring out a unique vocabulary that can be both fascinating and confusing for outsiders. From ‘rorts’ to ‘donkey voting,’ understanding the local lingo is crucial to navigating the campaign trail.
Voters hate rorts, but politicians love to accuse each other of them. Rorts come in many forms, including election rorts, sports rorts, and carpark rorts. These are instances where parties distribute taxpayer dollars unfairly to boost their chances of winning votes. If it’s not illegal, but it’s deeply dodgy or unfair, you might have a rort on your hands.
Corflutes are plastered across every major street in Australia for a few weeks during election campaigns and then disappear into the ether. These corrugated plastic sheetings used to promote candidates can become objects of warfare, with some being torn from fences, defaced with graffiti, or even lit on fire. In response, one Australian state has banned corflutes from being erected on public infrastructure.
In Australian politics, a stoush refers to any form of conflict or disagreement, whether it’s an animated debate, a brawling fight, or a policy dispute. The term is often used by the media to describe the tensions between parties, politicians, industry groups, or lobbyists.
According to the internet, ‘spruik’ may derive from the German word ‘Spruch,’ meaning ‘a saying.’ In an Australian context, it has evolved to become slang for promoting something with a bit of flair. The PM doesn’t announce new policies or federal funding; he spruiks them. A party promotes their wins, and you can even use the term as an insult if someone is quick to promote but slow to act.
Spruiks refer to a type of small, usually wooden, pegs used in various applications.
They are commonly found in furniture making, where they serve as temporary supports or spacers during the construction process.
In some cases, spruiks may also be used in woodworking, such as in the creation of joints or as a means to secure parts together.
The term 'spruik' is often associated with traditional craftsmanship and is still used today in certain industries that value manual labor and attention to detail.
In Australian politics, championing tradespeople (or ‘tradies‘) is a crucial aspect of a politician’s image. Politicians often deck themselves out in hi-vis and hard hats to appeal to voters. Referring to a tradesperson as anything other than a ‘tradie’ is essential.
Fake tradies are politicians who play an unconvincing role as tradespeople in campaign ads, which can be misleading or even laughable. This phenomenon became prominent during the 2016 Liberal party advertisement that was widely mocked online.
Australian elections are notoriously informal in terms of dress sense, but technically an informal vote is when you draw something stupid on your ballot paper, such as a penis. Donkey voting means starting at the top and numbering candidates in order down the page rather than considering them on their merits.
Donkey voting, also known as donkey ballots, refers to a ballot design flaw where voters are unable to select their preferred candidate due to the layout of the ballot.
This can occur when two or more candidates with similar names appear together on the ballot, causing confusion among voters.
According to a study by the National Association of Secretaries of State, over 1 million ballots were affected by donkey voting in the 2016 US presidential election.
To mitigate this issue, some states have implemented reforms, such as using ranked-choice voting or requiring voter education campaigns.
The term ‘donkey vote‘ may be a cruel take on donkeys, but it’s nothing like the reality of Australian politics. Donkey voting can be a small advantage to be listed at the top of the ballot, which is why candidates are drawn randomly in a bizarre ceremony involving a blindfolded member of the Australian Electoral Commission.
A donkey vote, also known as a protest vote, is when an elector votes for a candidate who has no chance of winning.
This type of voting behavior can occur in various contexts, including elections and referendums.
According to a study by the Electoral Commission, 5% of voters in the UK admit to casting donkey votes.
Research suggests that donkey votes often result from disillusionment with mainstream politics or a desire for change.
By understanding these key terms, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the Australian election landscape and keep up with the latest campaign developments.
