Peter Martin writes on the political process of the Charter of Budget Honesty which means the Government can have a good look through the Opposition's (not minor parties) economic plans. (more)
The
Robson Rotation
is an electoral technology used in Tasmania which jumbles the order of the candidates within a party grouping on the ballot paper. it was developed as a challenge to the donkey vote, effectively dampening any skewing of the vote by voters ticking off the first five in the list. Does the Robson Rotation affect incumbency?
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Supposedly the Labor Party lacks vision, leadership and an ability to engage the community. This is touchy feely garbage which ignores the realities of our Westminster forms of government and the interaction of the media with both the government and opposition. If Labor wants to get in faster they should wish for a recession, or alternatively make some sensible democratic choices such as term limits on the Executive and fixed term elections. (more)
The Westminster System is woeful in stopping incumbency. The British system has parties stay in power for close to a quarter of a century at a time, in Australia the churn rate is greater but party's remain in power often for a decade at a time.
This is a failing of the Westminster system, if Australia is to persist with a parliamentary system, term limits need to be introduced to increase the churn rate of the elected representatives in order to protect against incumbency, corruption and nepotism.
Poll : Best device to increase the churn-rate?
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