C'mon Rob, break it down. If being a parliamentarian is really just some sort of stressful hell, why do so many people apparently seem willing to do almost anything to get elected? Just take a look at the NSW State seat of Epping, a Liberal-held seat where the member will retire at the next election. There is a most unsighly campaign for party pre-selection going on. Ethnic branch stacking, secret smear campaigns, interventions then withdrawals from the PM and state Leader of the Opposition, high-profile and low-profile candidates, the full nightmare.

And for what? Indications are that the new member will join colleagies for another term on the opposition benches, where their contribution will necessarily be minimal.

The candidates realise all this better than you and I, yet still they claw and jostle to get in there. Why?

Rob.
Those poor politicians. They have a 3 year contract and cannot be sacked, their accommodation is subsidised, their transport is free, they have subsidised meals not to mention the members bar.
Poor overworked babies, what do most backbenchers do? What do most opposition members do?
Politicians do not have a public workplace, they hide behind freedom of information legislation. People working in call centers have every single word recorded and every action logged and timed, maybe we should do the same for these poor deprived individuals.
Stress has very little to do with depression its causes are:
• Certain people are more likely to develop clinical depression. The following are risk factors for depression in adults:
o Female sex
o Advanced age
o Lower socioeconomic status
o Recent stressful life experience
o Chronic (long-term) medical condition
o Underlying emotional or personality disorder
o Substance abuse (such as alcohol, sleeping medications, medications for panic or anxiety, cocaine)
o Family history of depression, especially in a close relative (such as parent, brother or sister, or child)
o Lack of social support
People “hit the wall” every day, like the 3,000 suicides the 1,000s of single vehicle accidents the overcrowding of mental wards. The people who use drugs, legal and illegal to alter their reality.
If politicians think they have it tough, look at the majority of our society. They may realise how lucky they are

I would like to see more abuse in Parliament.
I sincerely believe that our PM should always be addressed and referred to as the Hon. liar from Bennelong.

The posts so far underpin the lack of faith in our elected representative that is currently growing in many sectors of the community.

A flick of the switch brings The House into our houses and displays the indignity with which our elected representatives both comport themselves and deal with matters which are of grave concern to many people. I agree wholeheartedly with this author. Its very difficult to respect either a Prime Minister or a backbencher when they can daily be viewed giggling, shouting, scuffling and engaging in inane wars of childish name calling. It is also a puzzling dichotomy that legislation outlawing discrimination can emanate from a chamber wherein the majority consistently flout such legislation.

While I know firsthand of the pressures alluded to however, I cannot cite these as mitigating factors: such behaviour is not acceptable in any occupation at all. I do feel it is time that more of those who find such behaviour offensive speak up. If one would not tolerate such behaviour either in one's own home or workplace, why condone it in persons who owe their jobs to those who elected them?

These embarrassing behaviours are undermining not only the ability of our politicians, but of our entire political system

Fair-Go Mate? The demise of Australian culture and it's politic's is putting everyone at risk! Abuse is rife where critical thinking is low.

Buz words like innovation and accountablity... are for the high-flyers of trends, regardless of the need for equity.

Fair-go Australia needs an honest revamp!

Thing is that now all discrimination has been outlawed.

Discrimination based on prejudice, malice and spite is allowed.

http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/adb/ll_adb.nsf/pages/adb_general#w

The anti discrimination Act is discriminating against those that are being descriminated against for no good reason except that those that are doing it have power and CAN!

It must also be remembered that before the Anti Discrimination board will even investigate a complaint you have to prove that if falls under their jurisdiction so you need for the person who is doing the discriminating to have publically said why they are doing it and there be witnesses or have a written confession in your possession.

People are well aware of this and know not to give reasons for their mistreatment and discrimination. Its a joke.

Are our pollies a tragic self sacrificing crew of martyrs? An underpaid overworked band of honest men doing an honest day's work for peanuts?
I do believe the PM works hard,probably his cabinet wouldn't dare slack off while he is around but he is not often around.
No one can complain about the courtesy, manners and deportment of the parliament in session because there is none to complain about.
A more badly behaved, ignorant lot would be hard to find.
Maybe the worst behaviour attracts desired attention. Such behaviour would not be permitted in any school I know of ,why is it allowed ?

yep mickijo - well said... I suspect that even Bart Simpsons mates couldn't get away with it... and you know how animated and off-the-wall they can get!

My thoughts are very similar Mr. Moodie. I wonder why you didn't get more positive responses. Could it be that posters on OLO have been influenced by the "bullies" in parliament and chidish name-calling politicians to the point of indifference?

I suspect a few posters have come on OLO to share their knowledge and ideas only to be turned off by those who like to put them into little boxes and insult the bejesus out of them -just like the people they vote for.