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Major political parties agree on voting changes targeting micro-parties Major political parties agree on voting changes targeting micro-parties
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Australia’s major political parties have taken significant steps to inoculate themselves before any new federal election contest, reaching consensus on changes to the voting system which will make life difficult for micro-party candidates.Australia’s major political parties have taken significant steps to inoculate themselves before any new federal election contest, reaching consensus on changes to the voting system which will make life difficult for micro-party candidates.
The joint standing committee on electoral matters has recommended introducing optional preferential voting in the Senate, and the abolition of group voting tickets.The joint standing committee on electoral matters has recommended introducing optional preferential voting in the Senate, and the abolition of group voting tickets.
It has also recommended new registration requirements forcing parties to have a minimum of 1,500 unique members, up from the current requirement of 500.It has also recommended new registration requirements forcing parties to have a minimum of 1,500 unique members, up from the current requirement of 500.
The changes – the most substantial overhaul of the Senate voting system since the 1980s, and, on some analyses, since 1949 – are supported by the Coalition, Labor and the Greens, but unsurprisingly have sparked a backlash from the incoming crossbench.The changes – the most substantial overhaul of the Senate voting system since the 1980s, and, on some analyses, since 1949 – are supported by the Coalition, Labor and the Greens, but unsurprisingly have sparked a backlash from the incoming crossbench.
They are designed to stop the practice of preference harvesting which has delivered micro-parties substantial Senate representation despite candidates attracting less than 1% of the primary vote.They are designed to stop the practice of preference harvesting which has delivered micro-parties substantial Senate representation despite candidates attracting less than 1% of the primary vote.
“The gaming of the voting system by many micro-parties created a lottery, where, provided the parties stuck together in preferencing each other, some of whom have polar opposite policies and philosophies, the likelihood of one succeeding was maximised,” the report argues. “While such gaming of the system is legal, it has nonetheless distorted the will of voters, made Senate voting convoluted and confusing, and corroded the integrity of our electoral system.”“The gaming of the voting system by many micro-parties created a lottery, where, provided the parties stuck together in preferencing each other, some of whom have polar opposite policies and philosophies, the likelihood of one succeeding was maximised,” the report argues. “While such gaming of the system is legal, it has nonetheless distorted the will of voters, made Senate voting convoluted and confusing, and corroded the integrity of our electoral system.”
The proposed changes were welcomed by a number of election analysts, and are also broadly supported by the South Australian independent senator Nick Xenophon. Greens senator Lee Rhiannon, who sat on the committee, said: “I look forward to working with my parliamentary colleagues on legislation to implement these positive reforms to make our voting system more democratic.”The proposed changes were welcomed by a number of election analysts, and are also broadly supported by the South Australian independent senator Nick Xenophon. Greens senator Lee Rhiannon, who sat on the committee, said: “I look forward to working with my parliamentary colleagues on legislation to implement these positive reforms to make our voting system more democratic.”
The ABC’s election analyst Antony Green said the changes would mean a minor party would need about 5% of the vote to have any chance of winning a seat.The ABC’s election analyst Antony Green said the changes would mean a minor party would need about 5% of the vote to have any chance of winning a seat.
“The system does away completely with the existing system that allows for backroom deals on preferences between parties,” Green said on Friday. “Under the new system, the only preferences that will be counted are those filled in by voters themselves. Parties lose control over Senate preferences. With group ticket preferences between parties abolished, only parties that campaign and encourage voters to give preferences will have any ability to influence how preferences flow.”“The system does away completely with the existing system that allows for backroom deals on preferences between parties,” Green said on Friday. “Under the new system, the only preferences that will be counted are those filled in by voters themselves. Parties lose control over Senate preferences. With group ticket preferences between parties abolished, only parties that campaign and encourage voters to give preferences will have any ability to influence how preferences flow.”
“Preference harvesting between micro parties will become impossible.”“Preference harvesting between micro parties will become impossible.”
Given the cross-party support for the changes, and the welcoming of the report by the special minister of state, Michael Ronaldson, they will more than likely become law.Given the cross-party support for the changes, and the welcoming of the report by the special minister of state, Michael Ronaldson, they will more than likely become law.
But the new Senate crossbench reacted sharply to the move.But the new Senate crossbench reacted sharply to the move.
Liberal Democratic senator-elect David Leyonhjelm provided an admirably succinct response to the proposal: “Over my dead body.”Liberal Democratic senator-elect David Leyonhjelm provided an admirably succinct response to the proposal: “Over my dead body.”
The Family First senator-elect Bob Day told Guardian Australia that in the last federal poll, 25% of the country declined to vote for the major parties, and the changes essentially disenfranchised those voters. He described the proposed changes as “industry incumbents conspiring with each other to lock out new entrants”. Day said the reform package being proposed was “a Coles and Woolies scenario – and we are the IGA of Australian politics”.The Family First senator-elect Bob Day told Guardian Australia that in the last federal poll, 25% of the country declined to vote for the major parties, and the changes essentially disenfranchised those voters. He described the proposed changes as “industry incumbents conspiring with each other to lock out new entrants”. Day said the reform package being proposed was “a Coles and Woolies scenario – and we are the IGA of Australian politics”.
The Democratic Labour party senator John Madigan expressed similar sentiments. “The only time the major parties ever agree on anything is when they are voting themselves a pay rise or squeezing out the competition,” he told Guardian Australia.The Democratic Labour party senator John Madigan expressed similar sentiments. “The only time the major parties ever agree on anything is when they are voting themselves a pay rise or squeezing out the competition,” he told Guardian Australia.
“The major parties are making these reforms to cement their positions. They want a political duopoly – taking turns at government at the expense of the democratic process,” he said. “The micro parties have worked within the system the major parties designed. Now the major parties feel their rule is threatened, they want to change the rules. How is that democracy?”“The major parties are making these reforms to cement their positions. They want a political duopoly – taking turns at government at the expense of the democratic process,” he said. “The micro parties have worked within the system the major parties designed. Now the major parties feel their rule is threatened, they want to change the rules. How is that democracy?”
The Palmer United Party leader Clive Palmer took to Twitter to voice his displeasure.
“The proposed changes to voting system and registration highlight how major political parties in Australia are afraid of competition,” Palmer said.
The proposed changes to voting system & registration highlight how major political parties in Australia are afraid of competition #auspol
Chair of the standing committee on electoral matters Liberal MP Tony Smith and deputy chair Labor's Alan Griffin, rejected any suggestion the proposed changes were a case of major parties changing the system to suit their interests.Chair of the standing committee on electoral matters Liberal MP Tony Smith and deputy chair Labor's Alan Griffin, rejected any suggestion the proposed changes were a case of major parties changing the system to suit their interests.
"Our job was to produce a report that restored the choice of the voter, so any party can get voters to vote for them but the voter will decide where their preferences go, that's the point," Smith told reporters in Canberra on Friday."Our job was to produce a report that restored the choice of the voter, so any party can get voters to vote for them but the voter will decide where their preferences go, that's the point," Smith told reporters in Canberra on Friday.
Smith said micro-parties were "popping up like mushrooms". He said the recommendation to boost the registration requirement was designed to give voters confidence that parties had "an appropriate level of genuine support to have themselves established".Smith said micro-parties were "popping up like mushrooms". He said the recommendation to boost the registration requirement was designed to give voters confidence that parties had "an appropriate level of genuine support to have themselves established".
He said the last federal poll had left voters "baffled and bewildered by some of the results". Smith pointed to the size of the Senate ballot papers, and senators elected on a tiny fraction of the primary vote.He said the last federal poll had left voters "baffled and bewildered by some of the results". Smith pointed to the size of the Senate ballot papers, and senators elected on a tiny fraction of the primary vote.
Asked whether votes would be wasted under the new system because they may be "exhausted" much earlier in the process, Smith said the principle was to restore choice to the voters.Asked whether votes would be wasted under the new system because they may be "exhausted" much earlier in the process, Smith said the principle was to restore choice to the voters.
"What you've got at the moment is quotas being fulfilled but it's a mathematical nicety because they're not representing, in some cases, the electoral will.""What you've got at the moment is quotas being fulfilled but it's a mathematical nicety because they're not representing, in some cases, the electoral will."
Griffin said Labor had pioneered above-the-line voting from 1984, but it had led to unintended consequences. He said it would be incumbent on government to ensure plenty of time for a proper education campaign about the changes. He said after the introduction of above-the-line voting in 1984 and an extensive education campaign, some people still did not understand the system.Griffin said Labor had pioneered above-the-line voting from 1984, but it had led to unintended consequences. He said it would be incumbent on government to ensure plenty of time for a proper education campaign about the changes. He said after the introduction of above-the-line voting in 1984 and an extensive education campaign, some people still did not understand the system.
"This is arguably the biggest change to Senate voting since 1949," Griffin said on Friday."This is arguably the biggest change to Senate voting since 1949," Griffin said on Friday.