Australian Political Quiz

Welcome to the Australian political quiz - 10 questions that will help you determine your political philosophy and where you stand compared with Australian political parties.

Your political philosophy will be determined using a 2 dimensional grid. One dimension will assess your economic views, ranging from a belief in free markets and capitalism to command economies and socialism. The second dimension will assess your social views, ranging from a belief in conservative nationalistic values to belief in greater civil liberties and social freedoms.

Your views will then be plotted on the below grid:

What about communism?
And conservatism?

Five broad political philosophies have been identified, including:

Social democracy. A belief in a mixed economy and some level of personal freedom. This describes the current political environment in Australia and most of the developed world.
Liberal democracy. A belief in a free-market economy and in personal freedom.
Democratic Socialism. A belief in a command economy and personal freedom.
Free-market conservative. A belief in a free-market economy and conservative social values.
National Socialism. A belief in a command economy and conservative social values.

The quiz includes 5 economic questions and 5 social questions. Each question has five possible answers. Based on your answers, you will be placed somewhere in the above grid. Also, the policies of Australian political parties have been compared with the questions to determine where they stand on the grid.

A Quick Guide to Australian Political Parties

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Questions

Economic Questions

1) Approximately what percentage of GDP do you think the government should control through taxing and spending?

Around 10% or less
Around 20% (eg Hong Kong, Singapore)
Around 30% (eg Australia, Ireland)
Around 45% (eg France, Norway)
Around 60% or more

2) How involved should the government be in running businesses? Should some Australian industries be nationalised or should government business be privatised?

All government business should be privatised
Some more government businesses should be privatised
The status quo is about right
The government should own more important businesses (e.g. a bank or phone company)
There should be widespread government ownership of business

3) How much should the government regulate, control and restrict international trade and foreign investment?

We should have immediate unilateral free trade and unrestricted foreign investment
We should continue towards liberalisation using the WTO and/or Free Trade Agreements
We should maintain our current limited level of trade protection
There should be some increase in our levels of trade protection and foreign investment regulation
We should oppose the idea of free trade and globalisation

4) What should be the government’s role in human capital and education? Should they be involved and if so, how much responsibility should remain with individuals?

All education should be private, there should be no government involvement
Education should be largely private, with some government help (eg government loans and/or voucher system)
Government should retain the current mixed approach
Government should increase education spending, and focus more on public schools
Private education should be abolished and public education comprehensive, free and compulsory

5) How much should the government regulate the labour market? Should the government be involved and if so, how much responsibility should remain with individuals?

Abolish minimum wages and all labour market regulations
Have some minimum standards (eg minimum wage), but allow more flexibility
Maintain high labour standards, but allow some limited individual contracting
Increase labour standards, the minimum wage and union power, restrict individual contracting
Have a central agency control all wages and standards

Social Questions

1) What should the governments role be with regards to recreational drug use?

There should be no laws regarding recreational drug use
Legalise (and tax) marijuana and explore alternatives to the "war on drugs"
Be lenient to users but come down hard on sellers
Maintain the current "war on drugs"
Zero tolerance on drugs and more effort towards the "war on drugs"

2) What should the governments role be with regards to issues of sex? (such as prostitution, pornography, sexual orientation etc)

There should be no laws regarding issues relating to sex
Allow gay marriage and regulated supply of pornography and prostitution
Oppose gay marriage, but allow regulated supply of pornography and prostitution
Oppose gay marriage and prostitution
Oppose gay marriage, prostitution and the sale of pornography

3) What should the governments role be with regards to issues of life, such as abortion and voluntary euthanasia?

There should be no laws with regards to abortion or voluntary euthanasia
Abortion AND euthanasia should be allowed but regulated
Abortion OR euthanasia should be allowed but regulated
No euthanasia. Abortions should be allowed only in limited circumstances.
There should be strict laws against abortion and euthanasia

4) What should be the government’s attitude towards foreign aid? How much assistance should the government (as opposed to charities and individuals) provide to other countries?

Eliminate all foreign aid by the government. Leave it to individuals and charities.
Limit foreign aid to emergency assistance and humanitarian relief following major disasters.
Maintain current aid levels and programs.
Increase foreign aid with more going to particular countries and/or programs.
Increase foreign aid to a constant proportion of GDP.

5) What should the government’s role be with regards to the movement of people into our country? How many people should be allowed to enter?

There should be no restriction on the free movement of people
Have a high number of economic AND refugee immigrants
Have a high number of economic OR refugee immigrants
Low immigration levels with tight controls
Zero net immigration with tight controls