But your references about Tony and Rob,are not close to facts.
Belly,
So you're saying that had those two told their supporters up front they were going to give their preferences to the ALP they'd still have received the same support ?
Also, I have no qualms about your enlightening facts about the others, things I wasn't aware of.
My gripes is with not telling the voters up front. It is deceitful in the least & it also cost us dearly for a long time before the mutts made up their mind. Elections should be elections not an auction.

Bell,
We also need to ask Oakeshott & Windor to highlight the benefits to this Nation after twelve months due to their decisions.
I for one would dearly like to know.

@ individual:

Again, not much disagreement with what you've put there. The trouble is, you don't seem to be clear as to what your actual problem is. We have a concrete set of rules (i.e. electoral laws), but these are (rightly, in my view) subject to challenge and amendment via our democratic processes. I don't agree that it's possible, or even desirable, to draft a set of rules that can't ever be changed by anybody regardless of changed circumstances. Indeed, that's moving into the domain of religion and theocracy.

I'm not sure that I understand what you mean by "making people put their cards on the table" in this context. Perhaps you could expand on that a little, with an example or two of what you mean?

You speak in generalities about the Westminster System, then declare that it "has had its day" without specifying why or what needs to be changed. What would you replace it with?

Lastly, I agree completely that political parties should make public any preferencing arrangements prior to the election to which they apply.

Individual, you need more enlightened comment.
So here is some Labor did not run a candidate against Rob Oakshot in his state seat, he was invincible.
And Labor was content to not have a National in the seat.
He,I think, got Labor preferences in the federal election.
REMEMBER he had no links to CONSERVATIVE POLITICS, you have invented them.
Much the same on your thoughts and WINDSOR not the Iron Duke.
On what basis do you claim AN INDEPENDENT should not independently pick his choice of two offers to best serve his people.
Tell me you would not be crying if he went your way would you?
You know don't you, you have a one eyed view of the world.
And no case to stand on.
You do not fear minority control you fear any control that is not as you wish.

then declare that it "has had its day" without specifying why or what needs to be changed. What would you replace it with?
morganzola,
With a totally new system, made up by australians in Australia, for Australia. The present system is obviously not working why else would there be so much discontent.
Belly ,
AN INDEPENDENT should not independently pick his choice of two offers.
I couldn't give a hoot which one the independent supports as long as we're told who his/her preferences go to before we vote.
You do not fear minority control you fear any control th
at is not as you wish.
I fear the present mindlessness continues unopposed. You just have to look the damage that was done to Queensland when that mutt Wellington gave his preferences to incompetent Beattie instead of competent Borbidge. I rest my case.

@ individual:

That's all just a bit vague, don't you think? While I agree that our current Westminster system is less than ideal and has inbuilt anti-democratic tendencies, I still prefer it to, say 'party list representation' free-for-all as in Italy, or the Presidential multi-party plurality of the French model.

If, as you suggest, this apparently widespread discontent in Australia stems from our model of government, surely you've got some specific structural criticisms of our current Westminster model, not to mention some positive alternatives you'd like to see incorporated in the "totally new system, made up by australians in Australia, for Australia" that you advocate.

Otherwise you run the risk of sounding like just another whinger who doesn't have anything positive to contribute.