Welcome to the parliamentary party system. There are some votes you can avoid the party line with, but if the whip declares it a party vote, it’s a party vote and you won’t get your party endorsement for the next election if you step out of line.
Once FPTP voting is done and there’s a majority, it’s pretty much a party dictatorship after that. Caucus decides what legislation will be enacted, and the caucus/cabinet is chosen by the leader. Any debate in the legislature is purely for show, and sometimes they’ll take suggestions/amendments from the floor, but usually not.
It’s another stupid system that barely beats a monarchy.
Sasha@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 months ago
Yeah, the Labor party has a rule that you have to vote with the party. It’s insane and she’s the one person willing to standup to their genocidal policy
swayevenly@lemm.ee 2 months ago
That’s wild and it looks like they’re one of the biggest politcal parties.
Zagorath@aussie.zone 2 months ago
Yeah that’s correct. Our system isn’t as strongly two-party as the US, and it’s getting less and less so over time, but for most of the last 80 years it’s been two-party between Labor and the Liberal/National coalition. Labor being our equivalent of America’s Democrats, and the Liberal-Nationals the Republicans.
But unlike America, party discipline in Australia tends to be very strong. Voting across party lines is very rare, especially in Labor.