Voting attitudes and behaviour among aboriginal peoples: Reports from 29 Anangu women

The document attached has been archived with permission from the copyright holder.In this paper we address the issue of lower than average turnout rates among Aboriginal Peoples in remote regions of South Australia. A number of hypotheses have been offered to explain the low voting participation of such constituencies: Some have asserted that Aboriginal Peoples do not, in fact, wish to vote; others have suggested that first order elections generally have low salience for Aboriginal Peoples, thereby depressing turnout while the low political efficacy thesis has also been proposed. We explore whether any of these hypotheses are plausible using data obtained in group interviews with 29 Anangu women. The paper begins by providing some historical background to the development of the Aboriginal franchise after which there is some discussion of the problems of determining turnout levels in remote Aboriginal communities. After assessing the significance of the fieldwork results we close by reflecting on means for stimulating turnout within this constituency.Kate Alport and Lisa Hil

Ventricular septal defect in a child with Alport syndrome: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Alport syndrome (AS) is a rare inherited disorder characterized by an inflammation of the kidneys and damage to the glomerular capillaries, ultimately leading to renal failure at an early age. To date, rare reports of cardiac involvement in AS have been described, due in the majority of cases to the higher risk of heart conduction abnormalities in these patients, at times requiring implantation of a transcutaneous pacemaker. An increased risk of hypertension is likewise commonly featured.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a 17-year-old female affected by a very severe early form of AS. A previously unreported association of the syndrome with congenital heart disease (CHD), (in this case membranous ventricular septal defect), is also reported. A possible pathophysiological mechanism underlying the concomitant manifestation of these two disorders is suggested. Complications implicated in surgical treatment of CHD are described. Clinical and therapeutic management of AS with cardiovascular involvement are discussed, and a short literature review performed.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This first report of a cardiovascular association highlights the possible involvement of collagen mutations in the two pathologies. Even when drug-resistance appears to be responsible for the failure to control secondary hypertension in AS, clonidine may represent a safe, effective option in the normalization of high blood pressure.</p

Women and Alport syndrome

X-linked Alport syndrome (XLAS) is caused by mutations in type IV collagen causing sensorineural hearing loss, eye abnormalities, and progressive kidney dysfunction that results in near universal end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and the need for kidney transplantation in affected males. Until recent decades, the disease burden in heterozygous “carrier” females was largely minimized or ignored. Heterozygous females have widely variable disease outcomes, with some affected females exhibiting normal urinalysis and kidney function, while others develop ESRD and deafness. While the determinants of disease severity in females with XLAS are uncertain, skewing of X-chromosome inactivation has recently been found to play a role. This review will explore the natural history of heterozygous XLAS females, the determinants of disease severity, and the utility of using XLAS females as kidney donors

Electronic conduits to electoral inclusion in an atypical constituency: The Australian case

Due to compulsory voting, Australia’s turnout rate is among the highest and most socially-even in the industrialised world. Nevertheless, some voters are still left behind on election day. In this chapter we examine the potential for E-technologies to address the problem of political exclusion among some currently excluded groups of voters. We canvas known and suspected patterns of such exclusion and, in some cases, suggest possible reasons for it. We review the capacity for electronic forms of voting and registration to address: Low voting and registration levels among indigenous Australians; declining registration levels among the young; restricted access to the secret ballot caused by disability; informal voting among minority language speakers and people with low literacy and numeracy competence; low voting participation among people who experience difficulty in attending a polling place on election day and low voting participation among the Australian diaspora. We begin by providing some technical background, after which we report briefly on the E-voting state of play in Australia today. Lisa Hill and Kate Alporthttp://trove.nla.gov.au/work/3403897

Voting attitudes and behaviour among aboriginal peoples: Reports from Anangu women

At state and particularly in federal (or national) elections, Aboriginal Peoples in remote regions turn out to vote in low numbers. A number of hypotheses have been offered to explain the low voting participation of such constituencies. Some have asserted that Aboriginal Peoples do not wish to vote; others have suggested that " first order" elections have low salience for Aboriginal Peoples, thereby depressing turnout. The low political efficacy thesis has also been proposed, as well as cultural and mechanical factors. We consider whether any of these hypotheses are plausible using data obtained in group interviews with twenty-nine Anangu Women in remote South Australia. On the basis of this fieldwork we consider means for stimulating turnout within this, and in similar, constituencies. © 2010 The Authors. Journal Compilation © 2010 School of History, Philosophy, Religion and Classics, School of Political Science and International Studies, University of Queensland and Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.Lisa Hall and Kate Alpor

Political exclusion and electronic conduits to civic (re-)engagement in Australia

This paper examines the potential for e-technologies to address the problem of political exclusion among some currently excluded groups of voters in Australia today. It canvasses known and suspected patterns of such exclusion and, in some cases, suggests likely reasons for it. Topics covered include the capacity for electronic forms of voting and registration to address: low voting and registration levels among indigenous Australians;1 declining registration levels among the young; access to the secret ballot caused by disability; informal voting among minority language speakers and people with low literacy and numeracy competence; low voting participation among people who experience difficulty in attending a polling place on election day (including the isolated and physically immobile) and low voting participation among the Australian diaspora. We begin by providing some technical background, after which we report briefly on the e-voting state of play in Australia today.Kate Alport and Lisa Hil

Reconnecting Australia's Politically Excluded: Electronic Pathways to Electoral Inclusion

IGI Global - All Rights Reserved ©2001-2008This article examines the potential for e-technologies to address the problem of political exclusion among some currently excluded groups of voters in Australia today. It canvasses known and suspected patterns of such exclusion and, in some cases, suggests likely reasons for it. We review the capacity for electronic forms of voting and registration to address the following issues: low voting and registration levels among indigenous Australians, declining registration levels among the young, restricted access to the secret ballot caused by disability, informal voting among minority language speakers and people with low literacy and numeracy competence, low voting participation among people who experience difficulty in attending a polling place on election day, and low voting participation among the Australian diaspora. We begin by providing some technical background, after which we report briefly on the electronic voting (e-voting) state of play in Australia today.http://www.igi-global.com/Bookstore/Chapter.aspx?TitleId=981