Tony Windsor
POLLS showing votes for independents have doubled since the last election prove the independent “brand” has not diminished, New England MP Tony Windsor says.
Mr Windsor said one in five voters also indicated they were not satisfied with the major parties and would vote for someone else.
“I believe the polling shows that the Australian people are seeing the value of having a crossbench that can have direct influence on legislation – to improve it – taking on board the impact on various sectors of the community,” Mr Windsor said.
“I have always believed that, as an independent, my role is to help the government of the day to improve its legislation, not to just oppose or support.”
He said this Parliament – which did not have a majority in the House of Representatives or Senate – had led to more serious consideration of different views and respectful negotiation, because neither the left nor right of politics could dominate the passage of legislation.
Mr Windsor said not all had not participated fully in the opportunities the Parliament presented, but the number of bills passed and quality of the legislation was something to be proud of.
“The proof of the pudding is in the eating and I am pleased and proud to be part of the ‘mixing’ process that has enabled our democratic process to deliver many short- and long-term benefits,” he said.