Two-party tyranny

The Australian media also rubbished the introduction of PR in New Zealand in 1986. However, what remains unsaid is that a great majority of European countries - over 25 - practice proportional representation, often enshrined in their constitutions. These are stable democracies for whom the PR system causes no problems. New Zealand benefited greatly from its introduction.

My question is why are Australian so unbelievably backward when it comes to meaningful political reform?

Advantages of proportional representation

PR may be introduced as a constitutional package or by separate referendum to adopt the Hare-Clark or other PR system based on multi-member electoral districts (these districts could be same as the administrative regions for local governments, see below). This would provide scope for the representation of more parties and Independents - provided they had minimum support of, say, 4 per cent or 5 per cent in multi-member districts.

The proportion of votes required for representation in a district would not be able to be raised without a referendum or some other means of democratic consultation. This would ensure that major parties in a district could not simply vote together and raise the percentage without community consultation, in order to reduce the representation of smaller rival parties and independents.

For example: a system of 30 electoral districts, each returning nine members, would yield a 270-member legislature (House of Representatives). Add to this three senators per district (possibly not belonging to any party) and a total of 360 MPs would represent the nation in Canberra. That would be less than half the present total number if the states were abolished.

The Hare Clark system is well known in Australia as it is used in Tasmania, the ACT, and for the present senate elections.

In Australia it seems to be preferred over other PR systems, such as list PR systems and the NZ multi member district system of PR (based on the German system). The Dutch party list system of PR has superior elements. Only one tick is required to indicate both the preference of the party as well as the particular candidate on the list.

The important principles of PR, however, are comparable. The present single-member district system is probably the least suitable of all for Australia given that 80 per cent of our population is concentrated in metropolitan areas. This means that the interests of citizens in all rural areas and regions are permanently underrepresented. The long-term ramifications of this situation are obvious.

Recently the problem of factionalism in the NSW Liberal opposition has shown up as another major problem of the two-party tyranny.

First, the youthful Opposition leader John Brogden, a small "l" Liberal, was forced to resign ostensibly as a result of misbehaving while being intoxicated, but in reality as a result of factional skullduggery.

In February 2006 a new bout of factional war mongering broke out in Victoria in relation to pre-selection of candidates in the ALP. In a recent Four Corners program the ugly face of factionalism in the NSW Liberal Party was further exposed.

The need for electoral reform could hardly be more obvious. Where is the innovative spirit in Australia? Clearly not in the major parties!