Poirot and Lexi,
What you say is correct, when a party obtains government and does not have control of the upper house it has to put up with that or have a double disolution.

One must not forget that enough people voted for minor parties or independants to have their seat in the upper house, and rightly have input into legislation. In NSW the Greens, Fred Nile and independants have had influence on legislation, some of which I consider good and some of which not so good. Now the Shooters and Fishers Party are using their influence to gain access to some national Parks to hunt feral animals, which detract from the natural enviroment. I see nothing wrong with that. Nor do I see the introduction of shooting as a sport into those schools that want that sport for their students.

Maybe if there had been an upper house in Queensland it may have had a braking effect on the government and the rout at the last election may not have been as great.

We must be carefull not to do anything that prevents the formation of new political parties, they cannot be expected to be born fully grown. Labor and Liberal may not be the only major parties in future.

It is very much in the eye of the beholder.
Yes Howard acted that way.
He paid for it.
Greens acted that way just recently,they will pay for it.
Mid his term Kevin Rudd would have walked in a Double Dissolution election.
He did not call one we pay for it.
Why is QLD not damaged by not haveing an upper house?
Why do the facts show minority's seemingly miss use upper houses.
If they are right why is their basic support expressed mainly via the easier path upper houses.
If Labor is beaten, and that is likely, Abbott's replacement will call a dd election.
And control both houses, for a decade, how is that balance.
How can greens extremism be called balance?
Minority's controlling any balance is unbalanced sure we agree?

Dear Belly,

In a democracy, no minority can control an upper house: if a government doesn't like the minor parties, then they always have the option of negotiating with the main opposition. If they still fail getting a policy out, then it simply means that the given policy has no majority.

<<Excuse me for again saying what I think, but are you sure your views are shared by most?>>

They probably are not, for the moment - so what? Are you trying to imply that I'm not entitled to have a life of following my sacred principles (so long as I don't hurt others)?

You seem to favour the idea that the largest elected political party deserves everything - full and absolute control over the lives of all people who happen to live in the continent: One for the master and one for the dame, but none for the little boy who cries in the lane!

For those who advocate democracy, here is what it means - that 51% of the [adult] population are entitled to screw the other 49%, that if they liked they could even, in a perfectly democratic way, with proper legislative process, torture the 49% and send them to the gas chambers. Do you still think that democracy is fair?

I don't think that anyone can accuse me, a vegetarian, of sympathising with the Shooters and Fishers, but hey, for them shooting/fishing is the most important and meaningful thing in life, disgusting as it is, that's their "baby", their reason to live, so they went out of their way to form a party just for that. I believe that your "baby", Belly, happens to be Industrial Relations (I don't agree with your IR views, but that's besides the point and context of this discussion). What's wrong then, for Christ sake, with a compromise deal, with the minimal sacrifice of you (and me) allowing those people to shoot feral animals while they allow you to legislate as you please on IR matters? What's wrong with sharing some wool with the little boy who cries in the lane?

Dear Banjo,

Who knows what the future may bring.
I suspect that we may see a few more
Independents in Parliament. I also
suspect that the Greens may go the way
of the Democrats because of their
inflexibility. My son who used to support
the Greens is now having second thoughts
because of their recent failure to compromise.
It should be interesting to see what happens
at the next election.

Dear Belly,

Minorities also deserve to have a voice in a
parliamentary democracy. But they also risk
being ousted at the next election if they
don't listen to the people who vote for them.

Lexi do you approve of Xenophon? did you like or respect the family first senator.
Is a six year term too long.
Remember these minor players need only gather a small, but, community wide following to win that length mostly preferences.
With two majors unlikely these days to have enought numbers, it is usual that the balance of power will be important.
As recently in NSW, that brings about trade offs.
I have been a sporting shooter,but do not approve of shooting in National parks, by other than very trusted shooters.
So in letting NSW sell its power and the trade off being teaching kids about shooting is that what most want?
Who approves of greens actions on boat people? did your heart jump this morning as 180 faced[or we feared they did]death?
At times upper houses include some removed as criminals, small one man party's, who are these balancers to democracy?
Again I will get no answer but what is wrong in QLD because they have no upper house.
House of review? only words, increasingly they are home of Greens and very minor party's unable to get support in real house lower ones so spoiling in upper houses.
What next a house of lords?
Australia should go its own way
Reduce terms, one house one vote one value and accountability will strengthen.

Dear Belly,

We can argue backwards and forwards until the
cows come home. However, nothing will change
unless we put pressure on our elected members
with new ideas and suggestions. If you feel so
strongly on this issue - make your voice heard
by those who can implement change.

Malcolm Turnbull had an idea, for the Republic.
- the Government of
the day put up a cleverly-worded Referendum which
was rejected. However, this will not stop others
from trying again in the future.

If enough people support specific ideas - and pressure
is applied on the MPs - changes do eventuate. Look at
same-sex marriage - currently under discussion.
I guess the whole point is - to keep persevering in what
you believe and people will eventually come on board.