AUSTRALIAN POLITICS FOR DUMMIES

Understand the Australian political system and make your vote count
Get to grips with the good, the bad and the ugly of Australian politics! Whether you're a seasoned political punter or a voting novice, this is your essential guide to understanding politics in Australia. Master the ins and outs of elections, parties and policies, and learn to discuss the big issues in no time. You have to vote — now learn whyand how.
Decipher political terminology — clear explanations of the houses of parliament, voting systems and more
Learn how Australia's political system evolved — how Westminster and Washington were combined to produce 'Washminster'
Appreciate parliamentary roles — what the Whips do and just what the Usher of the Black Rod is
Find out who holds the purse strings — how federal and state governments work out who pays for what
Understand how political parties work — the differences between Labor and Liberal, and what coalition politics is
Discover what's meant by the balance of power — how minor parties and independents contribute to politics
Determine how your vote is counted — the difference between preferential voting and proportional representation
Work out the media's role — how the media reports, interprets and sways political outcomes
Open the book and find:
Key points about past and current political hot topics
Explanations of the Australian Constitution, including the crisis of 1975
Plans of the houses of parliament so you know who sits where
Analysis of how the major Australian political parties came about
A concise description of the electoral pendulum
Graphic descriptions of the different ballot papers
A comprehensive glossary of political terms and jargon
Learn to:
Identify what makes the Australianpolitical system tick
Distinguish between the differentpolitical parties
Understand the influence of the media in Australian politics
Cast your vote with confidence

Nick Economou is a leading expert in political science. He is a senior lecturer at Monash University, and a respected author and media commentator.
Zareh Ghazarian also lectures at Monash, has received awards for his research and teaching, and contributes to media and public debate.

Introduction.
Part I: Politics: You're in It.
Chapter 1: Australian Politics: The Basics.
Chapter 2: Hot Topics in Australia: The Political Debate.
Part II: The Australian System of Government.
Chapter 3: One Country, Many Rulebooks.
Chapter 4: Westminster: Much More than Big Ben.
Chapter 5: Washminster: The Australian Hybrid.
Chapter 6: Parliament: The House on the Hill.
Chapter 7: Governing the Great Southern Land.
Part III: Party Time!
Chapter 8: Parties, Parliament and Politics.
Chapter 9: The Australian Labor Party.
Chapter 10: The Liberal Party.
Chapter 11: The National Party.
Chapter 12: The Minor Parties and Independents.
Part IV: Citizen Power!
Chapter 13: Elections: A Festival of Democracy.
Chapter 14: Let the Campaign Begin!
Chapter 15: The Fourth Estate: The Media.
Part V: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 16: Ten Politicians Who Made an Impact.
Chapter 17: Ten Speeches Worth Listening to Again.
Chapter 18: Ten Acts of Political Bastardry in Australia.
Glossary.
Index.