The Senate is not all that democratic, given the voting system. Nor is it the ‘state’s house’ as it is supposed to be: senators will always go with their party. In other words, the Senate is a hoax – as it now stands.

What senator, with such an easy entrée into politics – needing only the touch on the shoulder from his party, having no hard work to do like candidates for the Lower House, and dead cert ‘victory’ – is going to buck the party line?

The author asks whether or not the Senate carries out its roles. The answer, mostly, is no. And, the balance of power has so far has been held by extremists of the Left, living in a tiny world of their own. It is downright stupid to have minorities (Left or Right or simply rev heads or dope smokers) holding the balance of power and blocking the will of the majority.

Certainly, reform is required; but whether or not the Senate should be abolished requires a good deal more thought and investigation than opinion.

What is more important, and vital to Australia, is the corruptibility of our entire voting system, where votes are lost (WA); where the AEC is a law unto itself; where the AEC enrols people over 18 for voting, without their knowledge, INCLUDING NON-CITIZENS; where the AEC talks about “irregularities” instead of fraud; where people can visit any number of polling booths and cast multiple votes without detection and, therefore, some politicians could be in Parliament unlawfully.

Yes. Something needs to be done about the Senate. But, in the meantime, forget the lies that Australia has “the best voting system in the world”, and the belief that corruption occurs only in foreign countries. There is, as yet, no evidence of corruption in the system. But it would be naïve not to demand that the system be changed. And, we cannot leave the investigation and change to the independent Australian Electoral System. It must be demanded of our elected representatives, who just might be in Parliament when they should not be.

I have a better idea - Lets abolish parliament entirely. Then we could always implore upon the good nature of the Muslim Brotherhood to govern the country ?

No way will the politicians be separated from there taxpayer funded gravy train. They will have to be forced out. I like the idea.

Yep Philip S, they are a bit like academia, & the bureaucrats in that aren't they?

Anyone proposing a referendum to abolish the Senate should read carefully the fine print of Section 128 of the Constitution. To abolish the Senate, you would not only need a majority in the whole country, but you would need a majority in EVERY state. At the moment the electors of Tasmania rightfully have the same representation in the Senate as NSW. If it wasn't for the constitutional guarantee, they would'nt have even 5 seats in the reps. Do you really think they are going to give this up? It just isn't going to happen.

Eric whoru speaks..ABOUT Governance...the peoples sovereignty
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9y-XMYL3T0