Improving the image of politicians

They need to have the courage of their convictions so that they can stand up and be counted against the Party machine on issues that weren’t taken to the people at the election. It’s understandable that if the election platform contained the relevent issues at the time then one must vote accordingly but there are times when issues are placed before the house untried in the electorate. These need discussion and a realistic approach to how it would affect the people of the electorate.

Politicians should test the electorate, ask the voters what they think on issues and test themselves to see if their assumption of which way a poll might go is correct. One can be surprised how close one can get the percentages and also how far out one can be! It’s a sobering experience.

Politicians must learn to listen to the electorate and never assume an issue is unimportant. If it’s been brought to the Member, it’s often because it’s consuming people’s entire existence.

A politician needs to have the courage to leave the Party if they have to abandon their beliefs or their electorate’s beliefs for Party doctrine.

A politician should have the courage to vote according to the will of the electorate and to vote according to their conscience at other times. Nobody believes that an electorate in the Cape wants the same things as those in the middle of Brisbane.

They need to remember it’s not for them to scorn another Member of Parliament because by so doing, they are scorning the people of his or her electorate.

Parliament should consider running a Beginners Course on Courtesy and Respect, and "How to win Friends and influence People" by Dale Carnegie should be mandatory reading with an exam to follow!

Partyism, as it stands now, prevents good legislation from being brought in and makes it impossible to defeat bad legislation. The Australian voters need to call a halt to this vicious cycle.

I’m certain there are many other suggestions that could be made, but time and space won’t permit it. However, a few words of advice to all who vote.

Don’t complain about the bad image of Politicians unless you’re prepared to take on your responsibility of getting your ‘employee’ in hand. Voters are the only employers in the world who employ people and then leave them to do whatever they please for the next three years without a murmer of dissent. Then they sack them! . Hundreds of letters from annoyed constituents denouncing bad behaviour will bring about changes as politicians see their highly paid necks on the chopping block, believe me!

I would have to say that there are very few Statesmen in our current batch of Politicians, but I live in eternal hope!