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.