I am very much in favour of preferential voting.
The major advantage is that it prevents the person most not wanted from
being elected.
The more candidates the bigger the advantage.

Dear Bazz,

Preferential voting is more complicated to
administer and count. It can produce a higher
level of informal voting and it promotes a two
party system to the detriment of minor parties
and independents. It may also force people to
vote for a candidate they don't want.

However, it does ensure as you pointed out that
only a candidate with the support of an absolute
majority of the electorate can win and it allows
parties of like-minded policies to exchange
preferences in order to assist each other to win.
And it promotes a strong two-party system, ensuring
stability in the parliamentary process.

cont'd ...

Ben Eltham argues that:

"Minority parties and independents have the ability to
reframe political debate and enable issues that have been
shut down by a two-party system to be discussed."

He tells us that, "It can be more representative when
minority parties represent a genuine minority of the
electorate. But when a majority party is able to capture
an absolute majority of the vote then we can truly say that
the majority of the electorate is behind a particular
government's mandate."

He finishes with, "As the majority party system erodes,
and we have more minor parties in coalition, its
increasingly harder to say that's the case."

Interesting times ahead.

Hi Foxy,

As someone who for over 40 years has mixed in politics, meeting countless numbers of party members, from all parties, large and small. Met so many political candidates. and more importantly meeting the active members who make up the parties. For me, there is little difference between those of the Liberal Party, and those of the Labor Party, there is no typical party member, and that applies to the minor parties as well. Having said that, the diversity of types in political parties is astounding, as much as there is in the general society. Given the diversity of the membership, and therefore the candidates as well, it would be impossible for a political party, such as Labor and Liberal who have so many elected, to have people of homogeneous political thinking within the parliaments, not possible.

Unfortunately, the system does not always see the best person for the job get elected. To be fair and unbiased that applies, in my opinion, to some from all the parties. Some candidates tick all the boxes for ability and job skills, only to receive a miserable vote on the day, seeing some wacko elected in their place. But that's the system we have, and we can't come up anything better.

Dear Paul,

Who knows what the future will bring as minor parties
and independents are beginning to wield a stronger
influence in the electorates and people are becoming
dissatisfied with the choice of leadership in the
major parties. Most of us tend to stick with what we
grew up with and what we know. Younger people are the
ones to watch. Interesting times ahead.

Hi Foxy,

I an skeptical of micro parties and independents. Often masquerading as something they are not. Earlier, on the forum I was critical of the so called Liberal Democrat, now Senator David Leyonhjelm, I criticized him as not being what he claims, liberal and democratic, I suspect he is more of Shooters and Hooters than anything else. I find it hard to trust "Named" parties like Palmer and Xenophon parties, although Nick had a track record to look at before going all out. I am also put off by one issue parties, like The 'No Parking Meters Party' which once did exists in NSW. I have been critical at times of my own party, for being too environmentally focused, and not doing enough to develop broader based policies. Although that has changed somewhat in recent years with polices that consider both the well being of the environment and the equity of the issue at the same time.

As for Independents, as such, they are a mixed bag, you never know what you are getting. Some are a real mystery at election time, never seen, never heard from. Others are high profile with resources to fund a decent campaign.