Well the wash up of the Federal Election (Federal 2010) has certainly left some flotsam and jetsam laying around on the beach to be picked over by the electoral experts and pundits. Many will offer up their views into why, when and how the Australian community has gotten itself into a position of a 'hung parliament'.
Lets put the Senate aside in this discussion, for the Upper House is looking after itself very well thank you, by having a third party presence keeping the excesses of the executive Government at bay, something that in my view is much needed, irrespective of whom controls the lower house. With a number of independents and one Green Party member holding the balance of power in the lower house, we are seeing a scramble by the major parties to persuade, co joule, influence the independents into providing the necessary numbers for the major party to hold on to power. There will also no doubt be an environmental price to pay for the lone Green member support.
What a great position the Australian people have created in ensuring that the whole of Australian politics is transformed into transparent and accountable decision making and review by the whole of the parliament. There is no escaping that whomever the independents choose as the next governing body for Australia, the big winners are the Australian people. All members of Parliament will now have to start behaving like we except of them, like compassionate, caring professionals whom care about the Australian people ahead of their own power bases.
Though it is unusual for Australia (since 1940) to have 'hung parliaments' it is not so uncommon around the rest of the world, including New Zealand, U.K, Canada and many European countries including Germany and Sweden, two of the most successful countries in the European Union. It has just taken us a little longer to realise the value of multiple party, multi-representative Parliaments that have to negotiate and compromise on major issues that affect the country, or the State, as a whole.
However the result of the Federal 2010 and the rise of the independents and their ability to bring a great deal of focus onto the real issues of Australia and the process of an accountable Government has lessens for our own Queensland Parliament and the next elections.
It is my view that the Federal 2010 has given more to Queenslanders than an opportunity to vent their anger at the current Government, it has shown that to have a number of Independents in Queensland State Government will produce a more accountable, transparent and productive Government for all Queenslanders.
I urge Queenslanders to seriously consider the value of having an Independent representative for their area and call upon current elected representatives to also seriously consider moving away from their Party Machine to really re-present their electorate by becoming independents.
Federally Tony Windsor (ex National), Bob Katter (ex National), Rob Oakeshott (Ex National) have all proven that if they have the vision, the conviction and the will then real democracy can flourish. I urge other Queensland MP's to follow our own local Member, Rob Messenger, and to consider really re-presenting their electorate by becoming independent and achieving the balance of power in next Queensland Government, to ensure that rural and regional Queensland receives more than is currently siphoned into the South East Corner.
It is my view that if Queenslanders really do want to have a representative and accountable Government, then the lessons from Federal 2010 is clear. Independent candidates are the only real option to seriously consider. If enough Queenslander's can see the value of the lessons learnt from Federal 2010, then Queenslanders will receive a truly representative Government.
With Independents having the balance of power in Queensland, imagine the accountability, transparency and real review of decisions that will be made available.
(ie: Sell Off of the peoples Assets, Health Pay Fiascos, Dr. Death Tragedy, Traveston Dam Decision, Why more $ are going to Brisbane and not Regional and Rural Queensland).
This is my personal view.
Mal
2 comments:
Hullo Mal. Although I am not a resident of the area that your blog is targeting, I will venture to make a comment on your ‘personal view’. I have always found it interesting to hear fellow Australians claim that the only way to make one’s vote count was to vote for a major party. Obviously the average Australian places no value on democracy or having their local member representing their views in parliament. Where is the democracy in the leader of a majority party dictating the policy to the rest of the party, regardless of the constituent’s wishes? While the average Aussie continues to live by selfish apathy, the old saying will apply. “A country gets the government it deserves!” I hope you will continue to promote independents standing in elections. Wishing you well with your blog, Kevin of Kev’s Office, Brisbane.
Thanks 'Kev's Office' we certainly live in interesting times, (the old chinese curse). But Hey, what times to be living in when we see the hardened Party structures starting to fracture as much as coal seam gas projects. Lets see if the message given the pollies resonates with the National Party and they finally decided to stand up and be counted as a separete party and get the best for rural and regional Australia.
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