h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've just been discussing the general crapulence of politicians with a work colleague and the subject got round to Australia, where it's illegal not to vote. We have a question: what happens if you don't support any of the candidates, or your party isn't putting up a candidate in your constituency? Is there a box on your ballot paper marked 'Abstain'? If not, are Australian MPs allowed to abstain from votes in the legislature?

Given my knowledge of politicians, my guess is that the answers are 'no' and 'yes'.

Sorry.

I should have said that the answers are probably: 'tough titty', 'no' and 'yes'.

How do they know if you actually voted or not?
You could always spoil your ballot, anyway, I suppose.
It may be good to legislate voting, though. Voter apathy is rampant here - 34% is considered a good turn-out - but we're all registered as voters. This, I assume, is because it doesn't seem to matter which flavour of incompetent idiot actually gets elected...even the well-meaning ones change after a few weeks of inhaling the rarefied flatulence of the Legislature.
PLT, Mick.