The ALP has in recent years, been unaccountable and runs roughshod over the rank and file members. One only needs to look to the Hunter Vally in the recent NSW election. Candidates were parachuted into electroates against the wishes of the local branches.

I think this article also raises the issue of question time in general. Question time is, at this point, useless. Questions must be on notice, there is no right of reply, questions are dodged by questionees and Dorothy Dixers waste valuble time.

I really think that question time should be reformed. Each member of the house (not each party) should get a certain number of questions per year (of course ministers and shadow ministers should receive more, but not all of them). There should be a right of reply, and the speaker should have the power to force a questionee to answer the question that is asked, rather than go on about irrelevant tripe.

Question time used to be a valuble way hold governments and members accountable. Between the major parties incompetance and the sillyness of system, have given us a waste.

Well said ChrisC

But there is a problem here, do you expect the labor or liberal party to make change whilst they have power.

Not Going to happen.

One thing also about the Newcastle election, one of the independents wasnt really and independent after all, being a member of the labor party.

Independence for the people, Yeah right

Down right deciet

Change is needed.

www.tapp.org.au

I asked Opposition Ministers to challenge the decision of an acting Minister.

The Opposition Ministers said that they didn’t have the power or resources to investigate individual complaints.

At no time had I asked them to investigate my families complaint, I just asked them to help me to challenge the decision of the acting Minister as his actions were unjust as they were based on lies. They didn’t respond.

The whole system is biased and corrupted and the process is set up to cover up http://jolandachallita.typepad.com/education/

The administration process has been designed to present the picture that they want to present.

First the ALP head office.
Yes , even if a good reason exists to not let the process of selection take place it is wrong to impose head office will so harshly on the party's members.
A very good reason existed in Newcastle, and I can not post here out of respect for the site.
Who do you claim was a ALP member?
Bitterness and miss information is no way to run a party nore fight for political space.
2 very major independents ran, only they and the greens had an impact on the result.
One was Brice the former holder of the seat and a past Labor member.
The other the city's Lord Mayor, strongly rumored to be the Labor candidate for some time.
He ran hard against every one.
Brice had local backing strong support and like the former wanted to win nothing less.
Greens polled strongly , I know of no Labor independent.
I in truth question your balance and understanding of politics.
If you truly want to play some minor roll in politics may I ask that this weekend you re read every post you ever put here?
And re think your anti conservative/Labor stance?
An understanding that kicking in the door of every thread highlighting one or both and refusing to understand 85 to 90% of Australians vote for them is unwise.

Come on Barry and the rest of you. Do any of you take question time seriously? If you hadn't noticed it has been run like this for decades. A farce, a place for political speeches deriding only the other Party. If you are Coalition, then rubbish the other parties. If it's a new Party, really get stuck into them as they are a threat.

This is not going to change if you keep voting for Labor or the Coalition. Why would it, they created it as it is and they love it. Dorothy Dix questions from the government simply to reduce the time available for Opposition questions, lies as usual and more lies, deep as it gets. That's what you will get, only more of it.

To Belly. If you can't say what you know then don't bother mate. Keep your pathetic little non secrets to yourself. You just keep voting Labor and don't think about anything OK. Why are you afraid of anything new by the way?

If this item is about political direction why has the Coalition escaped the blame for doing exactly the same? Prime example? Malcolm Turnbull, yesterday. Announced the water plan would go ahead without Victoria. Within hours he corrected his "view" to match Howard's. No one told him to change his mind did they? Not. Turnbull won't tolerate this for too long you know, he has a brain.

Why is that please Barry?

Could I ask Belly what an "anti conservative/Labor stance" actually is?

Does it mean anything other than people don't trust either of the two big parties?

I don't, who else does?

Could I suggest you actually try to explain to TAPP what is wrong with opposing the corruption, lies and inaction of our government's, both parties, instead of just pretending you "know something" which you can't reveal?