"We’re not dead yet": connecting with the missing middle

In my view, we should have been absolutely clear from the beginning we would not participate in the Republican debate unless there was a balanced range of alternatives for the electorate to choose from.

The direct election of president ought to have been something that was offered to the people. In confining ourselves to the minimalist option we stuck to the ‘business as usual’ approach to politics that the cynical and disaffected are absolutely fed up with.

We should also examine fixed four-year Parliamentary terms.

The ‘business as usual’ approach to politics suggests we shouldn’t even try to convince people of the case for such a change. I think we must begin to be more ambitious for our country.

There can be no question that the standing of Parliament and Members of Parliament in the community has never been lower than it is today.

I would like to suggest four initial areas for reform, which the Government and the Opposition should agree on.

First, we should strengthen the Standing Orders to make Ministers actually answer the questions they are asked in Parliament. Time limits should also apply.

Second, the Government should use the Parliament as the forum to announce and debate public policy rather than press conferences, as is so often the case.

Third, the independence of the Speaker should be increased. Labor has put forward a proposal to achieve this.

Finally, we need to look again at decisions such as the one to ban press photographers from capturing the detail of Parliamentary debate. In the 21^st Century, the current restrictions are quite absurd.