It's worth remembering that there is an easier and fairer way to conduct a general election, and that's the proportional representation system in use in New Zealand since 1996. Certainly it's not perfect, but it gives parties their fair share of Parliament, as opposed to the current Australian system. So instead of the current substantial majority for the Coalition, what would a New Zealand-style MMP election have looked like in Australia? Using the current first-preference results (n.b. counting is still underway) with a five percent threshold and an electorate-seat exemption, here's how it might have looked for Australia:
|
Party
|
% vote
|
Seats
|
|
Labor
|
33.85
|
54
|
|
Liberal
|
31.70
|
50
|
|
Liberal-National
|
8.72
|
14
|
|
National
|
4.58
|
[9]
|
|
Country Liberals
|
0.35
|
1
|
|
Green
|
8.42
|
13
|
|
Palmer United
|
5.59
|
9
|
|
Katter’s Australian
|
1.00
|
1
|
|
Independent
|
-
|
1
|
The Nationals' total of nine electorate seats is actually more than the seven seats they are entitled to from their share of the overall vote, so there would have to be two 'overhang' seats, taking the size of the Lower House to 152. A result like this would put the nine members of the Palmer United Party (which was only formed in April) in a prime position to choose the next government of Australia. The result would likely generate a victory for the Coalition, but it would require the support of the Liberals, Liberal-Nationals, the Nationals, the Country Liberals' one member and the Palmer United Party to form a majority government.
See also:
Results: AEC Virtual Tally Room
Politics: Political Compass - Australia 2013
Comedy: Clarke & Dawe - A Pollster?, 5 September 2013
3 comments:
you raise some interesting points mate. something to think about...
Proportional is great, but MMP is awful. Institutionalising parties and giving them the power to choose who gets in parliament rather than voters is a terrible idea.
What we need is STV. Take current electorates and group them into groups of 3–5, with 3–5 members elected from each using much the same algorithm currently used in the Senate. That will give us a proportional system without this awful giving of power directly to parties.
That's a good point, Zag. Under MMP the 75 electorate seats in Australia would be enormous. STV is probably a better option for a large country.
But I think you'll find parties are well and truly institutionalised whatever the electoral system. MMP reflects rather than bolsters parties' centrality to the electoral process.
Post a Comment