Constitutionally the Senate was designed to ensure that the big states could not use their majority of members in the Reps to ride roughshod over the smaller states. With the emergence of a two party system we have a situation where the Australian political agenda is still very much dominated by NSW and Victoria but also a situation where the Labor and Coalition Senators fall in line behind their party. In other words the check that the senate is supposed to have on the house of reps has all but disappeared.
The cross benches at least bring back some measure of review. We may not like it but we need to bear in mind that about 60% of Australians will vote for either the ALP or the coalition. About another 15% will vote for anyone as long as they are not ALP or the Coalition and the remaining 25% try and place their vote (often with very little success) with which ever candidate seems to have a platform that is not an extended ego trip.
In that context the existence of independents at least gives a voice to those 40% of Australians who are less than impressed with either of the major Parties.

Examinator

I fully concur with Foxy and Baygon's opinions on your topic.

I was relieved when Turnbull voted against Rudd's bail-out package, because I was knew this would provide the opportunity to widen the possibilities - and this was achieved.

A two party system is not a democracy - it is a hung parliament.

The cross-bench senators only have any power at all because of the knee-jerk opposition of the Coalition (Labor would be as bad in the same situation). To the extent that you disapprove of deals made to win the votes of the the minority parties and independents, you need look no further than the opposition to see whom to blame.

Sylvia.

I too agree with Foxy and Baygon and Fractelle.
I would of course like to correct a couple of furphies/misinformation being expressed it is the preferential voting system that keeps the Coalition viable in a first past the vote system Labor would be almost unbeatable….not good for the country.

The difference in the voting systems between the House and Senate is the Senate’s a preferential PROPORTIONAL system. As the name suggests its seats are allocated on the basis of the proportion of the votes received determines the allocation of the seats. This system more accurately represents the public’s views/opinions. The idea that only two party polarities accurately reflect the views of the public is preposterous. It is impossible for any thinking individual to agree with every policy either party comes up with, even their own members don’t .
In short the two party dominance polarizes politics (not good for the country). Policies choices are depicted as either/or extremes e.g. Capitalism or Socialism (absolute rubbish and debate ends up over fixed dogma . Even though common sense indicates that neither extreme is totally defensible . Real creative solution are smothered
The Senate’s a proportional system gives a wider choice (voice) other opinions in proportion to the votes they achieve. The fact that the Senate is more highly contested demonstrates the public’s desire for less polarized choices.
In that I applaud Xenophon’s actions. His stance will help several million people of Aussies *including* SA. He did his job as a Senator.

In reality many Aussies want green solutions as represented by their proportional numbers in the Senate. The vote DOES represent the proportional support in the states that have green senators.

If proportional voting was brought in the Reps we would witness a lessening of the two party dominance forcing more compromises/coalitions (more alternative, less careerist hacks).
Messy administratively but true democracy is messy. Nor is the Italian example the only other outcome.

We only need to be reminded of the effects of the Howard government's control of the Senate and what this meant for policy in terms of lack of consultation and proper review.

If nothing else this should be enough to make one vote for minors in the Senate. Give me a good Green, Democrat (RIP) or Independent anyday to keep the b's honest.

I doubt Work Choices would have made it through the Senate if the legislation was properly scrutinized and concessions made.

Xenophon's job is to represent his electorate which lies in SA and for them the fate of the Murray Darling and the Coorong is vitally important. Good on him for doing his job.

Turnbull was also doing his job in opposition. I actually agree with him about the handouts and the opposition would be remiss if they merely rubber-stamped the policies of the incumbent government.

Personally, I think baygon and the others have summed up the reality pretty well.
politics in Oz is really just a game of "good cop/bad cop" played on a national scale. Luckily Oz is one of the few surviving democracies where the citizens can still make a difference, albeit a small one, and as long as we keep putting people with morals and an Agenda on the cross-benches, we have a chance. I day-dream of the Federal election where a majority of Independents get elected, wouldn't that set the cat among the pigeons!
Oh, and they'll NEVER let us have CIR (citizen initiated referenda), you'd have to blow up all the TV towers and MAKE people come out on the streets to achieve that!