Call me cynical, but when a Government decides out of the blue
that “Fair and effective electoral laws are central to the
promotion of participation in our democracy” (see Jarrod
Bleijie press release here), I am suspect. I have
not heard anyone yelling about anything wrong with our Electoral
system so why the discussion?
Queensland is supposedly a bee’s wee wee from bankruptcy, we have
no money for decent health services, TAFE & Schools could be
flogged off, though, not only do we have the funds for Campbell’s
‘Tower of Power’, we also seem to have the spare cash to
investigate the “Future of Electoral Reform in
Queensland”? Discussion papers and the putting
together of legislation to make changes is not cheap so why has
the Government decided that this is something we need to
do? The Courier Mail has focussed on the compulsory voting
aspect, “Newman Government may dump compulsory
voting at state elections” which is pretty radical and for a
change, actually something newsworthy to read about in the
paper. Instead of reading about another Department cut,
sackings or nasty unions, we woke up to the bright news that the
LNP cares about the future of Queensland...
From my experience, the only real issues my friends have with
voting are: The constant political advertising yelling at
you everytime you turn on the TV; The crappy parking around
the schools to actually get and vote; Running the gauntlet
of the hawkers out the front harassing you with their ‘How to
Vote’ pamphlets, seem to be at the top three voting complaints,
we won’t go into the confusion of the preference system, that one
is too hard... Anyhow, actually having to vote itself does
not seem to be on the radar? Though having said that, being
the kind & caring leader he is, Campbell Newman is always
looking out for the good of the public, making an awful lot of
changes that are ‘for the State’s benefit’, so maybe this is just
one of those? Not something sinister as suggested by some
of the nasty-minded people on the blogs? This must be a
good change for us? Shouldn’t it? I mean, it would be
unthinkable for a Government to change the status quo just to
benefit their political future? Wouldn’t it?
In all seriousness, I would love to know what has really prompted
this care about democracy? Is it the fact that the
Government thinks that only older conservative voters who have a
lifelong habit of voting will actually get off their butts to
vote on the day & of course vote LNP? Will younger
voters who have never experienced the tasty sausage sizzle at the
primary school on voting day skip the experience to stay in bed
after a big Friday night out? Is it the ‘political
donations area’ which will result in the return of big money
donations? Or, is it the ‘forcing unions to allow
members a vote on political donations’? That one is a tad
of a concern as I don’t see the same emphasis in the
paper where they are asking the shareholders of publicly listed
companies to have a similar vote? I won’t even bother
addressing the ‘introduction of truth in political advertising
legislation’, seriously, Does anyone really think that one will
be put in stone?
Of course
Mr Bleijie is allowing us all to “Have your say on Queensland's electoral
laws” and you can download a lovely discussion green
paper. By all means, please, have your say, though
from previous experience, regardless of what political flavour
you prefer, (remember the Amalgamation discussions, over 90%
being against it in Noosa didn’t rate a mention in that final
paper?), it seems that only input that backs up what the
Government wants is ever actually released to the public?
I know there are a lot of very smart people out there who
are experts in polling, political trends etc., so hopefully one
of these experts will be able to educate us all as to why the
Government feels we need to reform elections Queensland. I
am just a daggy old middle-aged punter so what the hell do I
know, though, my spidey senses are tingling with this reform,
maybe it should be investigated thoroughly before we are back to
Joh days again?
Feel free to toss out your thoughts on what may be prompting this
electoral re-think in Queensland? Hell, maybe I am just one
of those nasty-minded people on the blogs too, seeing sinister
motives and jumping at shadows and there really is no devil in
the detail?
cheers
Noely (@YaThinkN)
PS: 1.50am 03 Jan
2013 - Prime Minister Julia Gillard was pretty bloody
quick to send out a Tweet about this, are the ALP maybe concerned
that Premier Campbell Newman is doing a Trial Run of this for our
potentional future Prime Minister Tony Abbott? Just a
thought...
January 03, 2013 Antony Green would be one
of the most no nonsense election experts around, his take on this
is very interesting - 'Queensland Electoral Law Review'
