People have been trying to make politicians accountable since the dawn of democracy, without much luck. We get one chance each every 3 or 4 years. During those 3 or 4 years, politicians are elected dictators, doing pretty much as they please - including breaking the promises they made to get elected - depending on the make-up of the Senate.

And, all we can do is vote for the other side, who will do much the same thing as those we kick out.

If there is a better way of voting, I would like to hear about it. Preferential voting should go. I used to think the Senate should go, too, but now I'm not so sure. The major parties want to fiddle with the Senate (to protect themselves, no doubt). And we would all like to see the Senate ballot paper simplified I think; and we don't want sheep-poop-throwing larakins becoming Senators with miserable sized votes. Get rid of preference voting there as well?

In my opinion we now have, for the first time ever, two intelligent and useful Senators in the Family First man, and in the Liberal Democrat. Make it easier for voters to put 'people' not party hacks in the Senate? Both major parties view the Senate as a retirement job for their faithful drones.

rehctub - you missed an important part that pension is indexed for life they will always be ahead of everyone.

Kevin Rudd will receive more than $600,000 a year for the rest of his life once he leaves politics.

The silver lining from Mr Rudd's tough week could come from the privileges of being a prime minister for at least a year.

It means he is entitled to superannuation, a gold air pass, a car, at least four personal staff, and his own CBD office space in Brisbane for the rest of his life.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/desposed-australian-prime-minister-kevin-rudds-600000-a-year-pension/story-e6freuy9-1225885918379

JULIA GILLARD $200,000 pension plus estimated $300,000-a-year office and travel costs

The low lifers even wanted more.
KEVIN Rudd bombarded the incoming Abbott government with demands for taxpayer-funded assistance for two Brisbane offices, staff and other perks, even ringing the Prime Minister to discuss his arrangements.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal former prime minister Julia Gillard, who is believed to have secured a six-figure cash advance to write her memoirs, also requested an office in Melbourne and Adelaide and also sought an extra staffer, citing John Howard's arrangements as a precedent. Her request for a second office was denied.

You rightards are unbelievable.
Moralscum wastes $50 million on a brainfart and all you lot can talk about is the long gone KRudd.
So its ok for the lieberals to waste money on champagne with Cambodian despots and helicopters to nowhere but its all Labors fault.
Open your rusted on eyes and face the truth.
The lieberals are only out for what they can get for themselves and their mates and they use fear, oppression and lies to get us to go along with them.
Do you like being suckers?

Always the past never the now. And always from the hard right faction of the liberal party. They see money as a mere figure

Lets not worry about railways that don’t go anywhere.

Abbott wanted an abbott friendly senate. He should have thought about senate friendly policies. Not his style, he had an agenda that only he knew. He really bungled it big time with no regard for his party members and captains picks. He even claimed being elected the PM’s seat. What a dill.

Certainly a part of history that is going to be hard to beat, no one could be that much self centered and flush with self importance as he was.

The Liberal party denial of climate change, needs to be softened and get on with the job of cleaning up our air ways, and get away from any reliance on coal. Turnbull is a good start in that department.

How about making Rudd and Gillard responsible for the $9bn wasted on the cash splash, the $10bn on the labor created immigration crisis or the $8bn wasted on the BER?

See what I mean.