good piece.

my only comment is that good leadership will require some harsh truths about how to improve Aust's situation.

My feeling s that self-interest and fear of unpopular policies may result in more fragmentation of the political system with major parties losing much more of primary vote.

the fate of the major parties will be up to the quality they demonstrate in response to current problems, as it will be in the willingness of the electorate to understand the key issues. as I have argued before on OLO, this will be no easy task for any western democracy.

Where's our politics going? Arguably, backwards/right hand down, at a rate of knots?

The two party system and the hugely manipulated preferential system is broken! And deservedly so! The reason for a pox on both your houses sentiment?

And a shame really, given it has created the climate where protest parties emerge and garner protest votes greater and greater numbers.

And who can blame them when politic brands and or political integrity have been so thoroughly trashed by power junkies, willing to say do or promise anything to hold the reins of highly seductive/addictive power.

The two party system and preferential voting has regularly meant candidates with the smallest primary vote can and do win a seat! Winning being all that matters!

And completely trashing, by the people, of the people and for the people, democracy in the process.

Thereby allowing its opposite, divide and rule and or win by default examples to emerge and dominate! Plus, the death of bipartisan politics and putting Australia and Australians first?

When bold divisive action is required! All that's proffered is the same old same old, timidity and sheeting home the blame for our parlous position on the opposing ideology!

Our democracy, is very rapidly becoming the best democracy money can buy and plainly presided over by vested interest! The inmates are in charge of the asylum!

Folks of your "conservative" political persuasion Don, should look askance at Kansas, where D trump's economic imperatives were well and truly rolled out over three years. And where the predictable (proof of the pudding) result was a state and an economy going, going, gone into economic melt down!

Sad commentary on the political class in Australia. The only time we saw any bold derisive action based on new or previously unimaginable ideas, was during or just after emergencies!

Now, all that prevails is the quite hostile shutting down of bold new ideas, plus destructive greed is good individualism and the complete absence/death of Australians and Australia first approach!

To the highest bidder, goes the spoils of incompetent, blame shifting defeat! God help Australia!
Alan B.

Our politics and nation is sure to go the same way that factual media reporting has gone - down the 'S' bend...
When we have media entities that deceptively publish lies, mistruths and narrative for polical means and act to repress the facts and prey on an ill-informed public (and I'm calling out 'Independent Australia') then we have real serious problems whether we want to face it or not

Alan B.,
"The two party system and preferential voting has regularly meant candidates with the smallest primary vote can and do win a seat!"
That is incorrect. Candidates with the smallest primary vote are eliminated first and therefore NEVER win a seat.

How could the two party system ever be described as democratic?

Quite frankly, it is two unhealthy and corrupting ideological alliances, pretending to be different.

Aidan, just opening the mouth to change socks again? In first past the post that candidate with the majority of votes wins the seat!

However, with several parties contesting a number of critical marginal seats and nobody winning a clear majority, second preferences come into play and given neither major party preference other, but perchance, the least likely candidate(s), someone like (a) green candidate(s), perhaps with just 15-17% of the primary votes? Then second preferences may well decide the outcome(s)!

I believe the voters should decide the outcome, not two bob each way, power brokers doing dirty deals in the dead of night in some dingy back room! Not for principle reasons, but just to maximize seat numbers, deciding, tail wagging the dog, control! And the devil take what the people want or the basic tenets of genuine democracy and or winning on meritorious persuasive argument!

This being an all too common outcome, then the broken preferential system ought to be replaced by proportional voting, the like of which now decides senate vacancies.

And the people need to remain absolutely free to direct optional second or third preferences. And ought remain their choice! Not party officials handing out how to vote cards.

That effectively eliminate a by the people, of the people, for the people, democratic outcome.
Alan B.