Fragile power: voters in revolt

Adding to voter disenchantment is an incredible trail of corruption in the NSW Parliament and in Trade Unions associated with the ALP, plus the sad sight of the Victorian Premier holding desperately to power.

So, it is inevitable that a huge anti-establishment mind-set has taken control of the political climate. This is shown by the huge swing against the Queensland Government in two recent by-elections. The voters are simply in revolt. Whoever is in power at any level of government anywhere in the nation will be removed at the next election, whether they be left or right.

What this means is that Australia is about to see a long succession of one-term governments at Federal and State level, and this will go on for at least a decade until outstanding leaders emerge who can command political respect and bring with them a new batch of quality MPs who are not party hacks but have managerial competence, public respect and an understanding of the integrity required to exercise power wisely.

Those new leaders will survive only if they understand that power is much more than the ability to raise enough money to win and to carefully control the aspirations of ambitious MPs. It is indeed the power to competently govern, implement reforms gradually in a way that voters can understand and accept, then create an era of stability and trust, both of which are hugely absent right now.

Some 150 years ago, Abraham Lincoln said magnificently that democracy was the government of the people, by the people, for the people, but we do not have this here in Australia. Not by a long shot.

We desperately need our own Lincoln right now. In fact, we needed him yesterday.