Dear Paul,

It would be lovely if we were given a choice of voting
for "the best people." But unfortunately they're usually
never candidates. I'm sure there are many better qualified
people out there - who are not in the running or given a
chance to run. I've met quite a few in
the past here in Victoria. I'm not sure how the parties
choose who's going to run.

Public Servants should not be voting in the first place ! It's like having relatives of perpetrators as Jurors !

Hi Foxy,

When you say; "Lidia Thorpe has done a great deal of damage for the Greens in Victoria." I find that generally applies to those who wouldn't vote Green at any time. Sometimes "controversial" people attract as many voters as they alienate.

Anyway, how candidates are chosen. In the Greens there is only a democratic process involved in choosing people to run, no parachuting or captains picks, or HQ impositions, only grass roots members can select candidates. Any financial member, with I think 12 months membership can nominate. An interview process with branch members an outline by the prospective candidate as to what they are standing for followed by some Q and A from the floor, a ballot will then ensue. In all ballots "no choice" is an option, so there is always a ballot even with one candidate. 'No choice' has happened only once when I've been involved, and it was my choice to exclude the nominee, then new noms are called for. The Senate ballot being state wide is a gruelling exercise for most, and some will drop out half way through. Presentation and credibility are most important, and you have to be well armed with facts, hesitancy costs votes. I'm always pleased when the person I'm supporting gets the nod.

What could happen to Victoria if Dictator Dan hangs on is what is happening in the U.S. of A, where "leftugees" are fleeing the blue states, particularly from California where so many Hollywood actors were going to move to Canada if Trump was elected: Trump was elected, but they didn't move. Now they are. Off to the Republican states.

Companies are also moving from super-woke California: Netflix, NBC, Apple, Chevron, Hewlett Packard, Tesla and American Airlines - all off to Texas, Arizona and Florida.

There must be some Victorians who are over Shifty Dan the Shonky Man.

Dear Paul,

Thanks for that.

In Victoria - especially at the state level - we've had
some excellent female candidates running on both sides of
politics. However, they have not stood much of a chance
against the males. Perhaps because they've been too
outspoken for their party's liking. It's always the males
who eventually get selected. I would like to see that
change.

Dear Paul,

In the area in which I live it has always been a safe
Liberal seat. And the choice of candidates has always
been rather limited. Labor has never taken the electorate
seriously at either the state or federal level. Liberals
have always won as a result. Matthew Guy is probably
going to win his seat here again.