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AUSTRALIAN SENATE |
When our founding fathers, led by Edmund Barton, drafted the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia they could not have foreseen in their wildest imaginings how the democratic practices they had woven into that Constitution could one day become the subject of manipulation so manifestly abhorrent to democracy as to reduce the Australian Senate to a farce.
But not just a farce that made our nation a laughing stock on an international stage, but a farce that allowed politically unknown persons - persons devoid of transparency - to use their influence over the Australian Senate to satisfy their own agendas.
Or put another way: When candidates won seats in the Australian Senate with only 10 people out of every 2000 (for example) giving that person their primary vote, that was not just a flaw in our democracy, it was a crack in our parliamentary system through which anyone could pass; and for whatever motives.
Now... some of the problem was addressed and corrected immediately prior to the 2016 federal election. But there is far more to do. As earlier stated, "Democracy is at the heart of National Security." And a Federal Party government will ensure that democratic practices - the intent of our founding fathers - and democratic practices alone, will drive the Australian Senate. And along with introducing strict penalties for Electoral Offences, here's how:
Above the Line VotingOptional Preferential Voting (OPV)
Having voted "1" for a party above the line, some voters may wish to indicate a second or third preference (or even more); but that would be optional. There is no need to do so. Your vote will still be valid (i.e. formal) if only one box is marked.
Randomised Ballot Papers
As with the House of Representatives (Lower House) there will be donkey voters who will take the easiest way out. And with Senate Ballot papers the party names appear above the line from left to right. Hence, a donkey vote would simply be a "1" in the box at the extreme left of the Ballot paper. The point being, that the party which appears at the extreme left will be advantaged.
Once again, it is only fair to allow other parties to share in the good fortune afforded by apathetic voters. And so, as with randomised Ballot papers for the House of Representatives, the same needs to occur for the Senate.
Below the Line VotingOptional Preferential Voting (OPV)
For those voters who wish to express their individual preference(s) for a Senate candidate, a Federal Party government would remove the necessity for voters to number all of the candidates listed below the line. As it stands now there could be 50 or more candidates. Just one mistake in numbering and your Senate vote is wasted; deemed informal.
No... when voters look at the daunting array of candidates, all they need to do is put a "1" in the box beside their preferred candidate, and if they wish, can then indicate a second, third, or fourth (etc) preference. But provided one of the boxes is marked "1" then this Senate vote will be valid.
However, a Federal Party government would encourage all voters to at least indicate as many preferences below the line as there are vacancies. That is, mark six of the boxes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 at half Senate elections if you live in one of the States, and 1, 2 at the same election if you live in one of the Territories. But again, this is optional.
Four Year Fixed Term Elections (synchronised with Lower House)At the time of fixing a date for three year term federal elections for the House of Representatives, a Federal Party government would also align voting for the Senate on that same fixed date.
And at the Referendum required to extend the three year term to four years, the Electorate would also be asked to support four year election terms for the Senate with these elections aligning with the House of Representatives (Lower House).
Abolition of Half Senate Elections
Voters would also be asked to approve the abolition of half Senate elections. This means that all the Senators would vacate their seats and stand for re-election every four years at the same time MPs in the Lower House vacate theirs and re-stand.
The current system allows all Senators to remain in power for six years (excluding the Territories) with half those seats coming up for re-election every three years. And we say tenure of six years is far too long for any politician. The term should be shortened to four years keeping all Senators on a much tighter leash which in turn creates the stimulus to perform.