One vote one value, & first past the post is the only truly democratic voting system. To fix Australia's problems, or even improve them, we must apply this to the house & the senate. Until we do we are bound for the swamp, which will drown us.

This gets rid of the ratbag element, & the special issue element, & keeps the crazies out of parliament. Just a few seconds looking at the dogs breakfast our senate has recently become will convince anyone with the best interests of Oz of this.

In the same way we need a senate which has only the power of review, not the ability to completely block government bills. Electing a parliament to govern, then electing another house to stop them governing in the way they were elected to govern is nothing but mass Schizophrenia.

It is only this mass Schizophrenia that allows the crazies to get into the senate & disrupt proper government.

Oh look, dear old Hasbeen wanting careerer politicians to have even more power.

As much as I don't agree with much of her politics the fact that we have a system that allows the Jackie Lambys of this word a voice is a big plus in my book. She often speaks the truth to power and I think we are better off because of her passion for ordinary Australians.

Hasbeen wants to silence voices like hers, to have disastrously unfair budgets like Abbott's 2014 effort to go unchallenged. I personally would love to see a Senate made up of people who had no party affiliations whatsoever. A citizen jury doing deliberative democracy, what a marvellous idea.

Thanks for all of your comments thus far.
What I am seeing is that politics in Australia is
in the midst of a transition. While the two major
parties continue to dominate we are seeing independents
and small parties emerge as voters grope for alternatives.

What will be of interest is whether those alternatives will
provide voters models that will win their support. Models
that offer meaningful programs of national development that
address our long term problems. I do admire voices like
Jacqui Lambi's but her platforms tend to be somewhat limited
in their scope with most of the emphasis being on the
Australian Defence Force personnel. She needs to broaden her
platform. I can't see myself voting for an independent though.
At least - not yet.

Hasbeen, FPTP is an abomination.

Do you really want an electoral system where standing for parliament is more likely to harm your cause (by reducing the chance your supporters will determine who gets elected) than help it?

Foxy, "What I am seeing is that politics in Australia is in the midst of a transition"

No it isn't. The public do NOT want change.

There is no way in hell that the public would allow leftist 'Progressives to interfere with the electoral system.

What you and other leftists are now seeing and are fretting about is that riding the gay politics bandwagon is almost at and end for you. Where else will the Greens and others be able to protest and get headlines? Where else can the same serial protesters get their kicks out of bullying individuals and even holding companies to ransom?

The always cynical, protesting Greens need new protest fodder. However if you are more patient, doubtless 'your' ABC will provide leads for you.

leoj,

Whatever is eating you must be suffering terribly.