Australian Political Expert

It was quite a small step for Australians to think, well, we want the majority of people to be

It was quite a small step for Australians to think, well, we want the majority of people to be

selecting our government and that gives it greater legitimacy so basically in australia you force people to exercise their democratic rights that's right yes that's right i don't think people in australia regard it as a particularly big deal you've got to turn up on election day which is a saturday you know it might take you like 15 minutes and the parents and teachers association will be there selling sausages and that's where we get the term democracy sausage

selecting our government and that gives it greater legitimacy so basically in australia you force people to exercise their democratic rights that's right yes that's right i don't think people in australia regard it as a particularly big deal you've got to turn up on election day which is a saturday you know it might take you like 15 minutes and the parents and teachers association will be there selling sausages and that's where we get the term democracy sausage

It's a $20 fine.

It's a $20 fine.

Look, there's big advantages in our system because the political parties don't have to get the vote out. And that means they don't have to appeal to the base. So you don't get the same sort of extreme ideological appeals. And so it makes our democracy, I think, more moderate.

Look, there's big advantages in our system because the political parties don't have to get the vote out. And that means they don't have to appeal to the base. So you don't get the same sort of extreme ideological appeals. And so it makes our democracy, I think, more moderate.

Well, it doesn't make it boring. Look, I don't know that that's a problem. For me, what democracy means is that the majority of people participate. And I find the extent of voter suppression in the United States Truly shocking. I don't understand how the Americans can call themselves a democracy at all.

Well, it doesn't make it boring. Look, I don't know that that's a problem. For me, what democracy means is that the majority of people participate. And I find the extent of voter suppression in the United States Truly shocking. I don't understand how the Americans can call themselves a democracy at all.

Well, that's a pretty big price to pay. I'd rather pay a $20 fine than have to put up with President Trump for four years.

Well, that's a pretty big price to pay. I'd rather pay a $20 fine than have to put up with President Trump for four years.