I have to confess that this measure passed through without my being aware of it, which is a sad commentary not only on me but on the failure of the Opposition and the media to make much of the changes. They are bad, and look like an attempt by the Government to make things easier for itself. When will political parties learn that fiddling with electoral systems only encourages the other side when it gets in? Above all, we need electoral systems which place the electorate ahead of the Government. Will Labor take up this challenge, or is it also pleased not to have to say where the money comes from?

We don't have a democracy, but a dictatorship. You can expect nothing more from the right wing two faction religious dictatorship we currently have in this country, all political parties are in bed with big business and religion. People are programmed to believe lies and deceit are the norm for ideologies to operate under, as they're told to believe in hope and have implausible faith in nothing, but false and misleading rhetoric.

Our downward plunge into a religiously controlled fascist state is well underway, with no hope of redemption unless the current political system is removed and replaced with a non party, truly secular system that allows the people to elect those reflecting the peoples desired outcome and not the economic outcomes of religion and big business, that enslaves the people.

The media in this country is fully controlled by monopolies closely aligned to the two faction party whom media monopolies contribute to heavily. If the media were unbiased, they'd give independents as much coverage as they give the lib/lab coalition. Anyone with idea's designed to improve our system and not regress it, have no hope of getting heard and in fact are hunted down and destroyed.

Their next target is the web, already their pushing religious morals and intend controlling content, Helen Coonan has already started doing it.

alchemist, many people would say you are a doom and gloom naysayer but I have to agree with you.

These electoral laws are another example of the governments contempt for democracy. And the Labor party is incredibly weak and will eventually sink to their level. People won't accept your use of the word dictatorship because when they think totalitarinism they envision Stalin, Pol Pot and other mass murderers, the fact is facsim comes in many forms, many of which we are yet to witness.

I'll leave with a quote from an American Congressman whose name escapes me.

"Congressman, do you think facism is ever possible in the US?"

"Oh yes of course, but we'll call it anti-facism"

The same can be said for Australia.

“The law closes the electoral roll before many have had the chance to register, takes away the vote from prisoners….”

Come on George. First time voters have the chance to register when they are 17 years old – a full year. How much longer do they need?

Prisoners lose their freedom when they are incarcerated. Voting is one of these freedoms or rights. That people in jail would be terribly concerned about not being able to vote is not credible, anyway.

You are getting pretty desperate for things to rubbish the Government, and Australia in general, about when you have to cry crocodile tears over no-hopers who can’t get their act together to ensure they have a vote. Isn’t it true that what is now happening used to happen? It’s merely going back to the future, and much more efficient.

Come on George! The vast majority of people have plenty of time to enroll. Its called personal responsibity. No need to vastly increase Electoral Commissions resourses to cope with an occasional rush. this is of no concern.

Prisioners are removed from society so why should they get to vote? In any case they do not have to be denied a vote. Simply decree that being in prison is an acceptable reason for not attending a polling place and having your name crossed off the role. No problem, we are not obliged to provide special personal provissions for them.

In relation to donations to political parties, it is noted that both major parties are in the hip pockets of big business and as I have said before; He who pays the piper calls the tune.

A far bigger concern is how the major parties have implemented COMPULSORY PREFENTIAL VOTING. This obviously favours the major parties over minor parties and independants because if you vote for an independant of minor party, one or the other major parties still get your vote. I cannot see any new party getting 50% of the vote at first election. The best one can do is deny the major parties the $2.00 (approx) for first preference. Now CPV is really undemocratic.

Leigh and Banjo argue that people have plenty of time to enroll but who is it for them to say how people should allocate their time? The point is that the Government has taken from them a period of time, that is the one week after the call of an election, which has traditionally been used to attend to these matters. The number of people who used this peiod to enroll or change their enrollment is proof of this. The AEC in its various submissions have not raised this as a concern! Leigh and Banjo are essentially ideologues - they argue that reality should conform to their view of the world, and they are unable to advance any argument of merit just that "they have plenty of time".

Williams and others have set the right test for this legislation: does it advance the the exercise of democracy in Australia? Clearly it does not.

For state and territory elections this legisatltion would not be so offensive because they operate on fixed electoral terms where the date of the election is set. But this does not apply in the case of federal elections where the PM continues to have the (undemocratic) right to determine the date of the electon. There is no reason why the PM should enjoy such a an advantage in our democracy, particularly when it will now exclude our fellow citizens from the vote! Democrats of all hues should be able agree on this if participation means anything to them.

Ralph