Political Assassination: The Rise of the Australian Democrats

I wait intrested. There not be many Australian TLs.

Proceed. Im interested.

Looks interesting.

The longest serving premier in Queensland's history has called of his campaign seemingly prematurely​

The Queensland National party premier, Joh Bjelke-Petersen called off his campaign for the prime ministership only 7 weeks in. The campaign, which wasn't well received by much of the urban Queensland population, has been scrapped due to a lack of funds and lack of support by the people. The saddened premier stated in a conference last Sunday that,

"We thought that the people of Queensland would support us through the opening of our campaign, and it saddens me that I have pulled it so prematurely. If we knew about the impending loss of money, and the lack of revenue for this campaign, we would of in hindsight never started this campaign to begin with".



Prime minister Bob Hawke, with his Labour party supporters have rallied for the controversial Australia card this Tuesday. The Australia card is an identification card that, if put through by the Australian parliament, shall act as identification system against tax avoidance and health or welfare fraud. Mr Hawke brought it to the Australian public at the end of 1985, and attempted to push it through as legislation last year, however, despite a majority in the House of Representatives, it was not passed by the Senate. Bob Hawke has brought the card to the Australian people, explaining that it will significantly lower tax, health and welfare fraud. Despite this, the coalition, led by John Howard, as well as the Australian Democrats are fighting against the legislation, stating that it is an invasion of the people's private lives. Is this the beginning of the major parties election campaigns?



Following last years disastrous economic fall from grace in which the Australian Dollar was devalued 40%, a clear increase in the deficit, and the federal governments loss of the triple-A rating, Opposition leader John Howard has come out advocating for Free-Market, and the end to the Federal governments grasp over corporations and businesses. However, Howard's opposition to the Liberal party leadership, Andrew Peacock has fired back at Howard, saying that Australia's economic growth lay within international trade. Opening trade with other nations in the Asia/Pacific area with help stimulate the economy back into economic growth. This statement was shunned by a number of Peacock supporters, as well as ardent capitalists such as former Australian Democrats leader, Don Chipp, who returned fire saying Peacock was avoiding Home economic policies, and that Howard already released statements in the same manner as Peacock. With his favourable opinion falling, Peacock needs to be careful, as he seems to be treading on a high wire.



The Liberal Party has failed to provide compromise within the Senate, and the Australia Card has passed 41 to 36. This controversial legislature shall go into effect November 18th of this year, and it requires all Australian adults 18 and over to give information of their being in return for protection from welfare, health and taxation fraud, as well as identifying and stopping tax avoiding and avoiders. The legislature was passed essentially by the Labor party, Australian Democrats (who had been opposed to it in the past voting session), and a number of Liberal party senators, especially high profile Victorian senator, Richard Alston. The Australian Democrats senator Janet Powell has stated that the Australian Democrats voted for this controversial legislature was to "to limit the power of the extreme aspects of the Liberal Party within the House and Senate". This may however, come at a price, as Bob Hawke did not receive a double dissolution which many member of the Labour party were hoping for. Bob Hawke is expected to make a press call this following week announcing plans for the future of Australian social security, and the up coming election.

Great, I relied on welfare fraud as a kid. How do you declare the $20 you make selling field mushrooms to the drunks in the pub?

Great to see an Australian timeline.

Interesting update. With the Joh for Canberra fizzing out, does that mean he might continue on as Premier longer than OTL?

Looks interesting, I'll be following

As others have said, it's great to see an Australian timeline on here.

David Johnston: Today we have a very big guest on channel 10 news, shadow foreign minister, Andrew Peacock, hello Mr Peacock.

Andrew Peacock: Good afternoon David.

David Johnston: So Andrew, let's settle right in, and I think the viewers would want to know your opinion of the Australia Card passing in the Senate.

Andrew Peacock: It's absolutely appalling, and the Senate should be ashamed for what they did.

David Johnson: And what's that?

Andrew Peacock: They past an act in which the government get's more details than ever on it's citizens. The Liberals that voted for this "reform" as they would call it, have much more to answer for, as they should be the limited government fellows the Liberals are. They used the auspices of protecting the people from social rots. I tell you, this "Australia card" is a big fraud, used by the government to get information off the people, and control them even more.

David Johnson: That's very interesting Mr Peacock. I think the people also want to hear your response to what the Prime Minister said yesterday afternoon. He stated that, quote; "This is a massive moment in Australia's history, and that this could be the beginning of major economic recovery".

Andrew Peacock: I can tell everyone now that's a total lie, something Hawke's been good at recently. What economic recovery is there to be had under the Australia card. Does Hawke think, or even believe that stopping tax evasion will cause the government to begin a national surplus. It will do no such thing. under the Liberal parties plan, we will stop Hawke's attacks on business, and end major government regulation of corporations. This will open up Australia to international trade. With China slowly getting cracked open, we can begin major trade with our neighbour to the north, and are GDP will begin to rise. Socialism does not work in Australia, and only the economic policy of the coalition will help boost Australia's economy to what it once was!



April 17, 1987:

Today, the relatively quiet leader of the Australian Democrats who has, for the most part, been left out of major talks involving the economy and Australia Card, has spoken out about herself an her parties position. She questioned Peacock's position, stating that a full free-market system would collapse Australia's economy, as it would be like "handing the keys of power over to a madman", this madman being large corporations. However, she went on to say that Peacock was right about the government's "extreme" regulation of business, and even went on to state Australia's regulation of business is "akin to that of Russia".

Later on, she began discussing social policy, and the Australia card. "It is an abomination, but a necessary one", she said, "despite its flaws, we must combat tax evasion any which way we can, and the Australian Democrats position is that of progression and reform. The Australia card must be reformed so it doesn't infiltrate the lives of hard working Australian's, but can still preform the function of stopping tax evasion".

When asked about her and her parties position on other social matter's she stated, "The Australian democrats are a progressive party, and wish to stay that way. We must, however, remain vigilant of social ills like drugs and prostitution. These must be combated against to the best of our abilities. The government must be held accountable for the deaths of people cause by these major problems. We must detain and remove drug users, as well as not just holding drugs, but destroying them. The government must also fight back against prostitution, as they are a major cause in spreading the AIDS pandemic, and they must be prosecuted as criminals due to their relation to this disease".




"Better Prime Minister"

• Bob Hawke: 45%
• John Howard: 39%
• Janine Haines: 7%
• Other: 5%

"Better House of Representatives Party"

• Labor: 48%
• Coalition (Liberal/National): 47%
• Other: 5%

"Better Political Party"

• Labor: 39%
• Liberal: 37%
• National: 15%
• Australian Democrats: 6%
• Other: 4%

"Bob Hawke Job Satisfaction"

• Satisfied: 43%
• Dissatisfied: 41%

Good start.

One minor nitpick: you may want to edit the February 30 date earlier in the text.

It's wonderful to see an Australian political TL on here, since there sadly aren't too many of those around. Consider me subscribed.

"I don't know what your getting at, but I always supported Howard's leadership"​

"I think that this nation is at an end with it's economy. There are homeless people walking the streets right now because they cannot pay for housing due to devaluation of our currency and the taxes the Hawke government have handed us. We need to Cut Taxes immediately. What I propose is a $5 billion dollar tax cut, aimed primarily at the middle and lower-middle class, and a $4 billion dollar cut to government expenditure".

The federal treasurer denounces Howard's economic plan​

Australian's are asked whether they support Howard's plans​

Do you support John Howard's Tax Cut plan

• Yes: 56%
• No: 44%

Definitely watching this. Without the prolonged distraction of Joh for PM the Coalition can be united earlier. Howard has to avoid the double counting tax error which Keating pounced on IOTL.

Nitpick: that first picture in the last update is Hewson, not Peacock.

An Australian TL!!!!

Will be watching this with extremely great interest. Excellent job so far mate

Despite dropping, the national unemployment level remains high at 8%​

Jeff Kennett and John Howard discussing economic matters​

"Four years ago, I entered the Australian parliament as prime minister for the first time. I inherited a 10% unemployment, the highest since the Great Depression, left there by the Liberals own Malcolm Fraser. Since then, unemployment has dropped 2 percent. Though that is not the result many citizens were hoping for, if you look at the statistics, it is certainly a step forward following the great leap backwards that the Fraser coalition government was".



"Hello, my name is Janine Haines, leader of the Australian Democrats. Our party is one for the modern Australia, and the Australia of the Future. We support free markets, free trade, real freedom, social liberty, reform and progression. We notice the real problems facing today's Australia, and tomorrow's Australia, and we are working as hard as we can to tackle the problems that we all face. Australia is tired of faceless politicians. It's time for change. We struggle today, so you have a better future tomorrow.




"Better Prime Minister"
Bob Hawke: 42%
John Howard: 40%
Janine Haines: 8%
Other: 6%

"Better House of Representatives Party"
Labor: 47%
Coalition (Liberal/National): 47%
Other: 6%

"Better Political Party"
Liberal: 37%
Labor: 36%
National: 15%
Australian Democrats: 8%
Other: 4%

"Bob Hawke Job Satisfaction"
Satisfied: 42%
Dissatisfied: 42%

Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen refuses to comment

Click to expand...

Is this hinting at there being no Fitzgerald (or something similar)?

Lord Brisbane said:

Is this hinting at there being no Fitzgerald (or something similar)?

Click to expand...

That's going to be revealed in the next update.

P.S thanks for reading so far

Cool timeline. The demise of the Democrats was a tragedy in my opinion (although I concede completely self-inflicted). Imagine how well a socially progressive economically conservative party would do right now!

"Why is it only now, as Australia plunges further into the recession abyss, that the citizens open their eyes to the corruption in politics around them. Joh Petersen, the premier of the state of Queensland, refuses over and over again to comment on the obvious police corruption in his state. What I say is we need a federal inquiry into him and his party's suspect affairs with state police officers and payments made to them. Not only this, the inquiry should also focus on the Queensland State governments role in hiding information of drug trade and prostitution, and the police's role in it. Australia needs to wake up and see the corruption staring them right in the face".



"We should not just step right up and accuse anyone of anything right now. With the limited information we have, we could still be wrong for all we know. We need to start this inquiry on a much smaller scale than the Federal Government proposes, and work our way up. If the premier, or any member of the Queensland government is involved in corruption of any type, will would certainly find it during this inquiry. We must be thorough during this investigation in case we accuse someone despite a lack of evidence".



"Do you support a federal inquiry into state corruption"

• Yes: 78%
• No: 3%
• State Inquiry: 19%