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Summary: Pop, Pot And Heaven (Press, 11 October 1980)
The Australian election in 1980 has brought forward a variety of fringe parties and candidates, highlighting unique perspectives in the political landscape. One notable candidate is Joylene Thornbird Hairmouth, a 24-year-old transvestite punk rocker from New South Wales, who is standing for the Senate. As a member of the group Jimmy and the Boys, she advocates for the youth, stating that "kids need help" and calling for greater recognition of the rock and roll industry. Joylene defends her candidacy by asserting it is not merely a publicity stunt, comparing her intentions to those of Jimmy Carter, who she claims did not seek the presidency for the sake of promoting his peanut farm. In contrast to Joylene's progressive stance, there is the Rev. Fred Nile, leader of the conservative Call to Australia Party, which is inspired by the Festival of Light. Nile, along with his small team of three candidates, promotes traditional family values and aims to provide a responsible alternative to both major political parties, as well as to more permissive groups like Don Chipp's Party. His campaign encourages Christian citizens in New South Wales to elect a representative that would champion Christian views on significant legislation and societal issues. Additionally, the election features the Marijuana Party, which contests the decriminalisation of marijuana and has two candidates running for Senate in Victoria. They claim that over 500,000 Australians support their platform, arguing that decriminalisation would alleviate the burden on the black market and enable the government to regulate and tax the industry effectively. One candidate, Jim Billington, expressed that decriminalisation could allow approximately 50,000 individuals involved in illegal marijuana sales to contribute to the economy through taxation and oversight. Overall, the 1980 Australian election reflects a diverse array of candidates and parties, with varying ideologies that reflect both progressive youth culture and conservative family values.
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