Keeping political parties honest

Making Political Parties Democratic

Some political parties in Australia, including the Australian Labor Party, have internal voting systems that give some members (and even non-members) greater voting power than other members, resulting in gerrymandered conventions, delegations and ballots.

‘One vote one value’ is a fundamental democratic principle recognised by Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It should be mandatory within political parties. This long-standing Democrat policy was recently endorsed by the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters.

Labor MP Carmen Lawrence has spoken out against the position in her own party:

If one vote one value were universally respected in political parties then most undemocratic and manipulated preselections, delegations and ballots would no longer be possible.

The Democrats are the only party committed to changing politics by requiring political parties to meet minimum standards of internal democracy and accountability.