At any rate, elections are where we decide who runs our governments, that's where this stuff needs to be sorted.

But on a macro level, it is worth having a discussion whether a democracy is in good health when only politicians can call an election.

NSW was never the gold standard, they just got lucky in 2020, in 2021 that luck has run out.

Similarly, Victoria has never been as bad as some of its detractors would suggest. The biggest COVID disaster in Victoria was when it got into the federally run aged care sector. The Minister (Colbeck) still hasn't been held accountable for that.

As for Gladys, I'm no fan, but if these petition hawkers just want her out because they can't cope with a lockdown, somebody needs to get them their bottle, burp them and set them down for the night.

On the other hand, if they want her out because she put politics ahead of public health and delayed a lockdown, then that is another matter all together.

At any rate, elections are where we decide who runs our governments, that's where this stuff needs to be sorted.

On the other hand, if they want her out because she put politics ahead of public health and delayed a lockdown, then that is another matter all together.

I hope it is not the above. As Conservatives go I like Gladys. I may not agree with her policies, but it is about policy making. I would love her to stay until the next election. The alternative could be yet another angry old dude devoid of policies waging Culture Wars wanging on about abortion, LGBTI and the flag, whilst achieving absolutely zero in the way of policies. (Boris Johnson springs to mind)

And unfortunately that is what awaits if Andrews lose in 2022, unless by some miracle, the likes of John Pesutto and James Newbery assume the top positions of the Liberal Party here in Victoria.


Michael

27,475 have signed

Yeah and that makes it right does it? I really feel sorry for small businesses up and down the country, but a lot of it is to do with us the public. Especially Office workers.

Take Victoria, people whinge and whine about lockdowns but when they are lifted do they return to work and by association help small businesses? Of course not. They would rather stay at home.

Stupid barnpots defying orders and risking infection does no one any favors. I bet a fair few of those are anti-vaxxers.

And anti-vaxxers deserve no oxygen whatsoever.


Michael

27,475 have signed

Yeah and that makes it right does it? I really feel sorry for small businesses up and down the country, but a lot of it is to do with us the public. Especially Office workers.

Take Victoria, people whinge and whine about lockdowns but when they are lifted do they return to work and by association help small businesses? Of course not. They would rather stay at home.

To be fair the work from home orders stay in place some time after the lockdowns are lifted and then there are rigid quotas lagging long after that. Some businesses now don't even bother opening back up to their office workers because they expect a lockdown will just be called again soon anyway.

Gladys Berejiklian is no longer fit to lead the state of NSW. Residents of NSW have had enough of the incompetence of the Berejiklian Government and the total destruction of NSW businesses and people.

Lockdowns have caused financial destruction of NSW businesses Lockdowns have caused devastating losses to NSW residents Lockdowns have caused an escalation in mental health issues and suicide Lockdowns have put fear into the people of NSW Mandatory testing is not a democracy but a violation of basic human rights Health orders involving police, mounted police, police helicopter, highway patrol and riot squad are heavy handed and unfair especially for people in the Western suburbs of Sydney

The people of NSW are tired of having heavy handed restrictions put upon them with decisions made according to "health advice". We have never been told what the health advice is or shown. Even the NSW treasurer was against the latest round of lockdowns Politicians are paid a wage regardless of whether they work or not, so lockdowns bear no effect to them Premier, you have lost the support of the NSW people and you need to resign.

This petition might actually gain some traction if the petitioners were honest with themselves, and say it's the Residents of Sydney who want her gone, not the people of NSW.

"Gladys is no longer fit to lead Greater Sydney. Residents of Greater Sydney have had enough.... Lockdowns have caused financial destruction of Greater Sydney businesses. Lockdowns have put fear into the people of Greater Sydney..."etc.

Sydney, Sydney, Sydney. There is no doubt that the lockdown has been very drawn out in Sydney, and the impacts of that are growing. A lot of people in Sydney seem to think they're the only part of NSW that matters, the rest of the State is just empty space on the map.

But, by and large, the whole of NSW is continuing as normal with limited restrictions. Where individual people from Sydney have been selfish and irresponsible and travelled to Orange, Newcastle, Tamworth or Byron Bay while infectious, the local populations have treated the short lockdowns seriously and prevented community transmissions.

Of course, what the Petitioners don't say in their Call for Action is "What is going to happen after Gladys Berejiklian resigns?" Will the need for lockdowns disappear? Will everyone suddenly be vaccinated? Will the Virus vanish "as if by a miracle"? What would removal of the Premier achieve? Is there some Saviour waiting in the wings to resolve the problems? It's all well and good to be angry about how the situation is affecting them, but what they are calling for won't provide a solution.

WOW this is gaining some traction, interesting.

https://www.change.org/p/gladys-berejiklian-we-demand-the-resignation-of-the-nsw-premier

To bring up the subject of another thread, less than half the population of Mildura have signed this petition.

M.

If Gladys goes, we'll have Barilaro won't we?

For gods sake don't sign it!

(Unless you're in the Monaro electorate...Then there's a 100% chance you'll never be subject to a lockdown, and every man, woman & child will have a personally autographed vial of vaccine delivered to their doorstep on a silver platter, courtesy of The Hon John (Pork) Barrel-aro.)

WOW this is gaining some traction, interesting.

https://www.change.org/p/gladys-berejiklian-we-demand-the-resignation-of-the-nsw-premier

To bring up the subject of another thread, less than half the population of Mildura have signed this petition.

M.

As of the time it was quoted, the number was 187 greater than the number of votes Berejiklian received at the last election.

Not a huge number, but not insignificant either.

Gladys Berejiklian is no longer fit to lead the state of NSW. Residents of NSW have had enough of the incompetence of the Berejiklian Government and the total destruction of NSW businesses and people.

Lockdowns have caused financial destruction of NSW businesses Lockdowns have caused devastating losses to NSW residents Lockdowns have caused an escalation in mental health issues and suicide Lockdowns have put fear into the people of NSW Mandatory testing is not a democracy but a violation of basic human rights Health orders involving police, mounted police, police helicopter, highway patrol and riot squad are heavy handed and unfair especially for people in the Western suburbs of Sydney

The people of NSW are tired of having heavy handed restrictions put upon them with decisions made according to "health advice". We have never been told what the health advice is or shown. Even the NSW treasurer was against the latest round of lockdowns Politicians are paid a wage regardless of whether they work or not, so lockdowns bear no effect to them Premier, you have lost the support of the NSW people and you need to resign.

This petition might actually gain some traction if the petitioners were honest with themselves, and say it's the Residents of Sydney who want her gone, not the people of NSW.

"Gladys is no longer fit to lead Greater Sydney. Residents of Greater Sydney have had enough.... Lockdowns have caused financial destruction of Greater Sydney businesses. Lockdowns have put fear into the people of Greater Sydney..."etc.

Sydney, Sydney, Sydney. There is no doubt that the lockdown has been very drawn out in Sydney, and the impacts of that are growing. A lot of people in Sydney seem to think they're the only part of NSW that matters, the rest of the State is just empty space on the map.

But, by and large, the whole of NSW is continuing as normal with limited restrictions. Where individual people from Sydney have been selfish and irresponsible and travelled to Orange, Newcastle, Tamworth or Byron Bay while infectious, the local populations have treated the short lockdowns seriously and prevented community transmissions.

Of course, what the Petitioners don't say in their Call for Action is "What is going to happen after Gladys Berejiklian resigns?" Will the need for lockdowns disappear? Will everyone suddenly be vaccinated? Will the Virus vanish "as if by a miracle"? What would removal of the Premier achieve? Is there some Saviour waiting in the wings to resolve the problems? It's all well and good to be angry about how the situation is affecting them, but what they are calling for won't provide a solution.

While it may be too late to fix the current situation (still debatable) it's about holding people accountable.

I agree with the statements further above that hodgepodge petitions are not the way to eject a government.

However, formalising an orderly process for recall elections would be a significant upgrade for Australian democracy at all three levels. Accountability should be ongoing, and the growing norm that winning an election makes the PM/Premier a dictator for the next 3/4 years must be crushed.

The US system seems to be one that is used quite responsibly by the public, as 19 states have recall procedures but only four petitions have ever managed to progress to the next stage of holding a recall election for the state governor. In California alone there have been well over 60 attempts to instigate a recall of the Governor with only two resulting in recall elections, so it appears even their 12% threshold is sufficient to prevent mischievous use of it.

I agree. We should use the US system of recall, with a 50% threshold, to ensure that nationally /or locally unpopular but nationally /or locally beneficial government activities are not blocked by noisy minorities (eg wealthy taxpayers who dont want to fund universal healthcare or grumpy residents who do not want a freeway built in their area).

Any system that allows the likes of Donald Trump to be elected with less than an overall majority at both elections and almost has to call in the military to remove him from office is hardly a model for anyone else.

There are plenty of checks and balances, eg votes of no confidence, in the Australian systems to deal with ‘perceived’ dictators. One of the justifications for fixed four-year terms is to allow governments to make necessary but unpopular decisions.

Sydney, Sydney, Sydney. There is no doubt that the lockdown has been very drawn out in Sydney, and the impacts of that are growing. A lot of people in Sydney seem to think they're the only part of NSW that matters, the rest of the State is just empty space on the map.

I'll be a little bit more generous and remind the viewers that NSW is colloquially known as Newcastle - Sydney - Wollongong.

Any system that allows the likes of Donald Trump to be elected with less than an overall majority at both elections and almost has to call in the military to remove him from office is hardly a model for anyone else.

There are plenty of checks and balances, eg votes of no confidence, in the Australian systems to deal with ‘perceived’ dictators. One of the justifications for fixed four-year terms is to allow governments to make necessary but unpopular decisions.

The US Should abolish the electoral college and allow the president to be elected via direct popular vote.