Have sausage, will vote! – Australia’s unique voting system

Play
Stop
 
 
Judith Brett and her book

Andrew Pople talks with Judith Brett about her book “From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage – How Australia got Compulsory Voting”.

During Federation talks, the colonies almost fell out over different voting rules, with South Australia in particular threatening to walk if its very liberal and progressive laws were not embraced.

Judith Brett recounts the highs and lows of the system developed to what it is today – did you know that voting wasn’t compulsory until after the first war?

(Visited 89 times, 1 visits today)
Download Audio

The Wire is produced in partnership by

Contributor Stations

Supporters and Program Distribution