Cliffhanger sends a message
PETER Gutwein has argued that only an absolute majority government can work. It is of course nonsense. There are and have been minority governments around the world, including in Australia, that work perfectly well. Any failure of a government to work is a failure of the major party to make it work, which involves some policy compromises. Even if it just secures the 13th seat, the voters have told the major party they do not like some of its policies. That is why the result is so tight.
Peter Gutwein says, “The Liberal Party will not govern in minority” (Mercury, May 4). That strongly suggests that, if it doesn’t win the 13th seat, it will work to ensure that any government that is established doesn’t work. In that case we, the voters, will not forget that the Liberal Party refuses to listen to them or to operate in democracy.
Bill Godfrey
New Town
LET’S GET REAL
NOW the dust has started to settle after the election, or is that smoke from burn-offs, perhaps it’s time for a bit of reflection. The modern Liberal and Labor parties are almost indistinguishable in terms of policies, philosophies and outlooks, so I propose we create a new party for the next election, the Realistic Party. It would tackle all the important areas that Liberal and Labor have either promised to address or paid lip service to, in the past few years.
OK, I’m having a lend, but please can all pollies try to work together to
address the major issues pertinent to all Taswegians, as outlined in pre-election promises by all parties and independents. Realistically.
John Holley West Moonah
STILL TWO MEMBERS
I LISTENED to leader Cassy O’Connor’s speech on election night and, at the end, thought I was listening to an electioneering speech for the next election. The Greens might have had a slight swing in the polls, but still only two members, with promises they simply cannot fulfil and knowing they could say anything and not have to deliver.
Bruce Reynolds
Lindisfarne
STRICT POSTAL VOTING
WHAT a ridiculous situation if postal votes dated May 1 are allowed to count even if sent after election day. Who can prove the votes were sent before the election (Mercury, May 4). All postal votes should be received 5pm on the
Friday preceding the election because this is the only way to ensure cheating can’t take place. This would also stop the delay in counting and results would be clearer much sooner. Could we see an election challenge if a large block of late votes suddenly gave the advantage to one candidate or party?
Scott White
Sorell
TAKE NOTE OF SWING
HOPEFULLY major parties will take on the swing to the Greens. We don’t want the pokies. We want big money out of politics. We do want to protect Tasmania’s wilderness and wildlife which is unique in the world. We do want the right to protest when things are not right (not just be grateful for not being shot as Scott Morrison thinks we should be). And we want good healthcare, positive jobs and a future (and a planet) for the young as they grow up.
Rachel Andrew
West Hobart
FREE US FROM ELECTORATES
I THINK the electoral system needs changing. Not that I begrudge the Liberal win. Just means the rich will be laughing and the poor once again will be struggling for the next four years. We should have the option as to which electorate we would like to vote for. If Uncle Bobby was running in Lyons I can’t vote for him as I am registered in Franklin. If people from Lyons wanted to vote someone out they can’t because the candidate is running in Franklin and they are not on their voting slip. I don’t think it is a true democracy until we are given the choice of who we want to vote for, not restricted to an electorate because we happen to live there.
Ian Batchelor
Margate
SPREAD YOUR WINGS
TASMANIANS hate change yet moan about the same old people in parliament. It’s seriously not that hard to find out everything about the candidates in your area, ask a few questions and if you like or don’t like what you hear, with the numbering of a pencil you can potentially shape the outcome of the state, but this just tells me that we are a state stuck in its ways. Oh well, only another four more years until we do the same thing all over again.
Daniel Webb
Glenorchy
TWO TO TANGO
ON election night, the farcical question of who would lead the Tasmanian Greens into the new parliament was posed. With two members only, a hypothetical one-all vote would thrust the Greens into a leadership crisis. Does a party of two parliamentary members entitle it to party status funding, on what basis, or is special dispensation required by government to provide funding. What terms and conditions are imposed for the Greens to fulfil their duties as responsible parliamentarians?
Kenneth Gregson
Swansea