but wouldn't it be the ultimate irony if Assange were elected, and found to hold the balance of power in a hung parliament, and the foreign minister became dispensable to the survival of the Labor Party by Assange's yea or nay?

With regard to Assange, Australian politicians like a good puppets will do what America want them to do.

Assange was right to expose all the double dealing, like we did not know it went on. He is facing charges in an independant democracy but believes himself above the law, so he scurries of to the embassy of an undemocratic country. Gee no matter how he or his supporters twist and turn they are the facts.
Spoilt brat that he is he uses the law just as he has complained others of doing. Now he is stuck! The Brits can wait him out and then treat him as he deserves. Jailed for running and then off to face the music in Sweden.
99% of his supporters would go anyone else facing a similar charge, is that ironic or what?

We should keep praying for Julian's safety and freedom.

As for being elected, Assange is a good bargain because the best possible politician is one who does nothing - I wish we could also import Israel's former prime-minister, Ariel Sharon who now lies in a coma since 2006.

It would be good to leave the personality and emotional dimensions out of it.

We should be strongly approving of anyone who comes forward to represent us. That is almost regardless of the person's politics, background and so on.

One of the very difficult problems confronting modern society is the disengagement of people with the political process. On an Insight program not so long ago, some in an audience of young adults voiced their exasperation with politics and political representation, saying that they were not heard and their views counted for naught.

Arguably, some media commentators play on and feed that alienation to suit their own short term agendas. As well as effectively disenfranchising the young people who made the comments, such frustration and beliefs can lead to people taking other ways to make themselves heard and understood. A few might follow the examples of suicide-mass murder that the feckless, irresponsible media also sensationalise, again for short term gains of increasing their audience.

So lets leave out the nonsense aimed at sledging and putting off Assange and others from putting themselves up to represent others. An earnest person, a railway fettler with good intent is every bit as good as a barrister with many thousands of kilometres of international travel. Even where we might disagree with them, they are doing what they should do in a democracy and in so doing they model behaviour youth could follow.

We want all people to have a sound citizenship and civic education and to participate. There are some who want the reverse of that and preferably, limitations on freedom of speech too so their views can hold sway.

I do not believe that Assange or Cannold has the maturity and balance to represent an electorate. Both bounce between very narrow rails of prejudice and self-conceit. It is impossible to imagine either being able to listen and put themselves in another person's shoes.

Assange was treated badly by the Australian government. One really needs dual citizenship to travel, because the Australian government cannot be relied upon to represent and advocate for its citizens abroad.

Dear Onthebeach,

<<One of the very difficult problems confronting modern society is the disengagement of people with the political process.>>

'Modern society'? Only?

Ordinary people of ALL ages never had any power about the political process: even since their ancestors, the apes, it was the Alpha males who had a say and nobody else.

The thin guise of 'democracy' is but a propaganda tool - it never existed: even choosing a monarch at random would be an improvement on that!