Former prime minister Scott Morrison has announced he will quit parliament at the end of February, triggering a by-election in the seat of Cook.

http://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/former-prime-minister-scott-morrison-is-set-to-retire-from-parliament-triggering-new-byelection/news-story/91b4740ee8aa0b82068ac1fd0dbbbf98

He was known for spending time overseas on holiday in Hawaii whilst we had major bushfires raging in Australia and for taking on a range of portfolios in secret without the knowledge of others.

Scott Morrison will be taking on new roles overseas. Yes it's a personal choice, but dragging voters through another by-election is something people should not be put through.

I was doing some research for this topic and found former SA Premier Steven Marshall will now also be quitting forcing a by-election there. It's like its all taken for granted.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-24/former-premier-steven-marshall-set-to-quit-politics/103382620

Should politicians pay a fine if they quit politics early for selfish reasons to help pay the costs of these by-elections?

Dear Nathan,

People elected their representative.
If the way their representative "represents" them is by no longer attending parliament AND supposing that is not how the electors want it to be, then it was their own mistake and if they want to correct that mistake by electing a different representative, then they must bear the costs... or keep the situation as it is and have no representative.

In general, people should be free to change their representative AT ANY TIME, as frequently as they like.
However, the tax-payer need not fund their frequent changes of mind.

Whether the former representative should foot the bill instead, is subject to the previous private agreements between the people and that representative.

Nathan

You know full well the no politician has ever been 'fined' for quitting early. Morrison became useless after he lost the election and the leadership, and he is giving the voters of Cook the chance of getting a better person for the job early instead of having a dud until the next election.

Have you asked this question whenever a politician on the other side of politics has packed it in before an election?,

Hi Nathan,

There is no such "law" that allows for what your question suggests. As for ScumO' Morrison resigning, he's doing the people of Cook a favour, he's been less than useless as a backbencher ever since the election. He's landed himself a cushy job, and that's it.

It’s poor policy to make people go through the trouble of such by-elections. Why not put the resigning person’s deputy in temporary i.e. caretaker mode until the next election ?
Similarly, under/non-performing bureaucrats are kept with good money wasted on them because they can’t be moved on or even better, out !
All these ill-conceived policies by incompetent or corrupt policy makers should be reviewed to be changed if needed at every election. So much could be achieved by doing everything at elections & be done with it until the next election.

Hi Nathan,

Politicians leave their jobs early for a variety of reasons.
I don't think they should be penalized for doin so.
The end result usually gives the voters better outcomes -
so it's a win-win situation.

Morrison will be Vice Chairman of ‘American Global Strategies’, which is connected with AUKUS. He is already listed on their website.

Let's hope that he makes a better fist of a real job that he did of politics.

gives the voters better outcomes -
Foxy,
When did that ever happen ?

Indyvidual said "Why not put the resigning person’s deputy in temporary i.e. caretaker mode until the next election ?"

Answer- This idea has merit. Kudos.

Ah, Morrison and all go-early politicians I recall have just been local MPs. They don't have deputies. Only Prime Ministers have deputies.

ttbn,
Next one down the line or someone via internal election but not the time & money wasting of a by (bi)- election. Leaving things as they are when they’re clearly not working is just stupid & corrupt !

As a person who has been put through two by-elections in one area it's not an enjoyable experience. Your letterbox is stuffed with negative material about other candidates, despite my "no junk mail" sign, you are overloaded with cold phone calls, surveys and polls, alongside misleading advertising. Then you are bombarded with election signs all over the area and you get other politicians brought in from all over the place.

On top of two by-elections, then general elections also. Whilst I enjoy and appreciate voting at general elections (at a basic level), there are only so many by-elections you can take. I'm not sure if I could take another one. I think politicians who quit early for selfish reasons should have to offer something to the electorate and voters, a fine, an apology, something. They shouldn't just be able to walk away and get away with it.

I do agree you don't want people there who don't care anymore, but we need change. Maybe a system where the next candidate who got the highest votes at the previous election is the one elected.

Indyvidual

I'm not following you. Both Morrison and Marshall were backbenchers, not party leaders, when they decided to quit. Backbenchers, mere representatives of their electorates, don't have a next-in-line. The only way they can be replaced is the same way they got there in the first place: an election by the voters in the district they represent, from a selection of nominees, from parties and, perhaps, independents. The full works.

Were I a voter in either of the electorates of Cook or Dunstan (in the case of Marshall), I would be glad to get rid of either of the rascals, and get another shot at something better.

So it costs. Democracy doesn’t come cheap.

And, even with all the regular changes of Prime Minister we have suffered, the deputy doesn’t get first dibs: there is an internal election. Australia isn't like Cuba, where Fidel's brother Raoul inherited the job.

This thread was just another futile moan from a malcontent about a fact of life in Australia that doesn't occur often enough to make a fuss about it.

Indyvidual,

Talking about better outcomes?

I don't know your circumstances. Perhaps you have a list
to complain about. I don't.

"(Morrison) don't have a next-in-line" Oh yes he does, its Bozo the Chimp, and if Bozo can't do the gig, then Dud Dutton is next in line, as we scrape the bottom of the barrel!

Some here can’t seem to grasp that in order to change things for the better we must first change the proven unworkable system. Change is the key word here not we can’t do this or that because of this or that. Change the policies & other idiotic systems so change can be effected ! Many are so adverse to change because it threatens their comfort zone & their place on the band wagons. They’re the ones who need to be made to think of others occasionally, a National Service will instil that mentality ! The money wasted on utterly pointless by-elections could provide many needed services. If anyone can think of a valid reason for a by- election then please tell us. A politician’s decision to quit should be something for the party to deal with & not for taxpayers & their money !

What happens when a representative quits, should be part of a pre-existing contract between electors and their elected representative.

Candidates should therefore, before elections, declare in advance and in a binding way, what is to be done if they die, become ill, are lost, or quit.

This declaration could include appointing a given alternate person(s) to take over the job.
Or it could include the candidate paying for a by-election from his/her own pocket.
Or it could include the electorate raising money, in part or in full, for a by-elections.

By default, should a candidate fail to make a declaration, then that electorate will have no representative until the next general elections unless it manages to raise the full funds needed to conduct a by-elections.

Hi Yuyutsu,

We have a mechanism in place to deal with those eventualities, its called a by-election. I don't often post in support of Morrison, but he's not the electors slave, held captive for 3 years. If you take a new job with an employer, and after a few months you find its not the job for you and resign, should you be forced to pay the costs of the employer in finding a replacement, me thinks not. All said and done, very few politicians resign midterm, most serve out their elected period.

Dear Paul,

Nobody should be forced to be held captive for 3 years - as I wrote, the default should be that people will either be left without a representative, or pay the costs of electing a new one. But then, a candidate who wishes to boost his/her chances of being elected could freely agree otherwise in advance.

Who am I to determine the relationship between people and their representative(s)?

That should be completely up to them - whatever they agree on.

Queensland Labor MP. Jim Madden, has pulled snap resignation requiring a by-election.

Anyone want to complain about that or, as suspected, it's only non-Labor quitters who are a concern for the whiners?

ttbn,

<<Queensland Labor MP. Jim Madden, has pulled snap resignation requiring a by-election. Anyone want to complain about that or, as suspected, it's only non-Labor quitters who are a concern for the whiners?>>

Yes/no.

Yes, the rules should apply to all. No, it's not only about Labor.

Nathan

It's strange then that Morrison is the only one you have ever made a fuss about.

Hi Nathan,

I guess like in football - most have already chosen
the team they support. Except of course for those of us
who don't particularly like football and don't barrack
for any particular team.

I love tennis.

Except of course for those of us
who don't particularly like football and don't barrack
for any particular team
Foxy,
And, above all can’t think !

Indyvidual,

Your comment - "And above all can't think."

The function of education is to teach one to think
intensively and to think critically.

The function of education is to teach one to think
intensively and to think critically.
Foxy,
Of course but how can we overcome not having people with the required mentality to teach this ? Or, haven't you noticed the poor standards lately ?
Look how down-hill the show has gone since these poorly educated have been put in charge ?

What a stupid thread. No one is forced to remain in position.

I guess this is coming from sour grapes from Liebor and the gangreens who can't get a real job outside of politics.

What a stupid thread. No one is forced to remain in position.
shadowminister,
As I stated earlier, a member stepping down must be the party's problem, not the voters !.

Should Liebor stump up for the $450m wasted on the execrable "voice" referendum?

Shadowminister,

I agree. Morrison has done the people of Cook a favour. Who wants an MP who doesn't want to do the job any more.

And, Morrison wasn't exactly a “prize” or an asset to Australian politics generally.

“No other Australian prime minister has been responsible for allowing such egregious assaults on our liberties and democratic rights”. (During Covid hysteria) “The excuse that power lay with the states and the ‘national cabinet’ - a creation of Mr, Morrison's to avoid Covid accountability - is not only disingenuous and slippery but misses the point: namely: that the prime minister has a moral obligation to safeguard our democratic rights and freedoms. That Mr. Morrison for two years of Covid ignored ignored the concern and evidence - even from his own backbenchers like
Craig Kelly” …… “ regarding the alternatives to and risks of mandatory vaccination, the dangers of lockdowns and school closures, the futility of masks and so on, is his true legacy”..... “ for that he stands condemned”. (Editorial, ‘Spectator Australia’, 27/1/24).

Should the NOALITION stump up for the $1 trillion wasted on la graisse for their mates from the Big End Of Town during Covid.

Should Liebor and the Gangreens pay back the $ 1 trillion debt they racked up?

How much should Jono Doig have to pay back the kids?