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VK6BE > USA 25.02.04 17:38l 47 Lines 2628 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : A40293VK6BE
Read: GUEST
Subj: Re:Political parties only 2
Path: ON0AR<ON0AR<ZL2BAU<VK7AX<VK3AVE<VK6HGR<VK6BBR<VK6ZRT<VK6JY
Sent: 040225/0013Z @:VK6JY.#ALY.#WA.AUS.OC #:30119 [Albany] WFBB $:A40293VK6BE
From: VK6BE@VK6JY.#ALY.#WA.AUS.OC
To : USA@WW
Barry has given a very good picture of the situation here. Perhaps we
should mention the effect proportional representation has on the Senate.
The result is that some minor parties (Greens, Democrats, One Australia,
and the Independents) can get candidates elected to the Senate. The
result of Proportional representation is that the two major parties
generally have about the same number of reps in the Senate. Voting is
close to 50/50. The minor parties, who have not enough support to have a
House of Representatives candidate elected, can, by getting a relatively
small % of the Senate vote get one or more candidates elected to the
Senate (the Upper House). There they can and do hold the balance of power
and so a couple of very small parties with a very small number of
supporters can and do hold the Government to ransom on many issues. The
Upper House then instead of being what it was intended to be - a House
protecting State rights, becomes a forum for the Greens, the Independents
and the Democrats who can seriously interfere with the Government's
legislative programme. Legislation can pass through the Lower House
(Reps.) with a huge majority and then be blocked by the minor parties
siding with the Opposition and voting against the Legislation in the
Senate. Is this democracy in action? I don't think so! The Senate is far
from what it was designed to be - a House to protect the interests of the
smaller less populous states which can be outnumbered in the House of
Representatives.Without it Sydney and Melbourne who have close to half the
population of the entire nation could dominate the rest of a huge
country.That is the theory anyway.
There is talk of change to prevent the Senate from blocking important
legislation but how to get this through the Senate would be a problem,
with the minor parties sure to oppose its passage through the House.
However if both Government and Opposition agree on the legislation it will
go through as the minor parties would no longer have the number to block
it. It would seem to be in the best interests of both major parties to
pass the legislation as both have suffered at the hands of the minor
parties in the Senate.
Australian politics as it is! Probably unique!
Bob VK6BE.
> The result is we have two major parties but also have two minor parties.
> They have to get a significant second preference vote to get a canidate into
the lower house.
Unfortunately the Senate has proportional voting and parties with a
lesser chance of getting into the lower house get a controlling vote in
the senate.
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