It’s a strange thing about our Federal Parliament.
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The notion of “one vote, one value” treasured by most of us is ignored when it comes to the Senate.
All the states elect 12 senators; the ACT and Northern Territory elect two each.
This warping of a democratic vote is intended to protect the states with smaller populations from being swamped by legislation based on the numbers in the larger states.
The system has, generally, worked reasonably well over the years.
It’s all different now.
A collection of three or four smaller states, with less total population than each of the two biggest states, can disrupt any process of good governance.
All sorts of people with a tiny fraction of votes can throw the parliament and government into disarray.
The latest nonsense comes from independent senator Nick Xenophon.
He intends to establish the “Nick Xenophon Team” – NXT. The acronym itself sounds like an app created by Microsoft.
The cult of celebrity contaminating Australian politics is extremely disturbing.
Once upon a time parties were given names which encapsulated the central ideas and aspirations of their members: The Australian Labor Party, Liberal Party of Australia, Australian Country Party (National Party), Australian Democratic Party, the Australian Greens.
Now we see parties identified by an individual and his/her aspirations.
Pauline Hanson’s One Nation at least suggested something more than the individual leader.
The Palmer United Party was totally about Clive Frederick Palmer. Its activities reflected Palmer’s personality – disorder and anarchy.
NXT will have a calmer celebrity in control, but there remains a disturbing emphasis on popularity as the leitmotiv.
He asserts his desire to “represent the sensible centre of politics”, which immediately attacks sensible and thinking ALP and Liberal voters, while asserting a totally unjustifiable claim for itself – if you’re not NXT, you’re not sensibly in the centre.
We know that Xenophon is addicted to numerous little stunts to gain attention, so his “team” will reflect this approach to politics.
Clowning around might enthuse the twittering troops, but it will not lead to efficient and productive governance. This demands a tougher, rational, and more comprehensive mind-set.
NXT will certainly implode, like The Australian Democrats, One Nation and the PUP.
But in the meantime, novelty rules. OK?
Bruce Watson
Kentucky