Vote for people, not parties

POLITICS

IT’S about time people started to vote for people and not parties. Maybe we should adopt how local government organise the ballot papers. Each candidate gets to be at the top of a ballot paper the same number of times as every other candidate. In state and federal elections, candidates can still have a party label after their name, but ballot papers should not have candidates’ names arranged in party blocs. This would reduce the power politics of factions and force people to think more about a candidate’s credentials and qualities rather than which party they belong to. What are the chances of this happening? Nil, because political parties want to continue to manipulate the populace on their terms.

Focus on energy

WITH huge reserves of coal, gas and a healthy renewables sector, Australia probably has the most secure electricity in the world. In contrast, we import just about all our oil and in a good week have about 90 days in reserve. Our oil comes from some of the most troubled countries in the world and our supply is at the mercy of wars, volatile markets and dwindling reserves. If the Federal Government was interested in energy security rather than votes, it would work to reduce our demand for oil.

Cruel exports

NOW Australia has taken the brave move to prevent live animal exports because of the cruelty and suffering involved, perhaps we could also ban the forcible export of humans from the country. Only a few days ago at least a dozen Sri Lankan asylum seekers were put on a plane at 2am and forcibly deported back to Sri Lanka despite a UN report published only last year that in Sri Lanka “the use of torture remains endemic and routine … by state security forces”. Surely our outrage against needless cruelty should extend to our fellow humans as well as sheep?

Redirect those skills

WHAT a pity our parliamentarians are incapable of using those forensic skills displayed in dealing with trivial misdemeanours of anyone on the opposing side to more important matters. To take one example, if only they could determine the price of power that can be provided 24/7 by the wind and sun for a whole year. Is it beyond their capability that this price will fully reflect the cost of batteries, stand-by power generators, strengthening and extending networks?

Factional dealings

TASMANIAN Labor believes in the adage “You will vote until you get it right”, as ostensibly illustrated with Senator Lisa Singh being placed fourth on Labor’s ticket for the 2019 half-Senate election. To ameliorate this factional dealing between Left and Right, reform of the ballot paper must be instituted, where above the line voting is eliminated, and individual candidates are listed in party groupings, where a minimum of one to six candidates are con- Senate backs bid to keep Bureau of Meteorology’s regional forecasting expertise in Tasmania The Senate passed a motion supporting the retention of regional services. Senator Martin left the Chamber, Senator’s Abetz and Bushby voted against the motion. Action speaks louder than words. Tasmania is a second priority to self-interest. secutively numbered to constitute a valid vote in a half-Senate election, and a one to 12 minimum consecutive selection of candidates for a valid double dissolution vote, where the Senate voting system is a form of proportional representation. The Robson rotational system (used in the Tasmanian House of Assembly elections to rotate candidates positions in political groupings) should also be enacted. This is highly unlikely to be legislated, as it represents a more democratic choice for the voting public. Hopefully, Senator Singh will recontest the next Senate election for the benefit of Tasmanians who require a parliamentary representative of considerable intelligence and thoughtfulness.

Party line

READER Sonja Hall misses the point on Lisa Singh’s abstention from voting against the party line (Letters September 12). To cross the floor would almost certainly lead to her exclusion from the parliamentary Labor Party. To abstain retains her position within the party but signals her obvious objection to the party line. The issue here is with party politics and the system of control which is as irrelevant and it is objectionable in the 21st century. The despicable conduct of party politicians Left and Right over the past couple of years must surely sign the end of traditional party politics and a return to a parliament of independent thinkers. Party politics should be confined to recent history where it belongs.

Fighting for recognition

FIFTY years ago, on September 11, 1968, women teachers in the Department of Education received their first equal pay. I remember the teachers dancing in the corridors of my high school. Fifty years after the principle of gender equality was legally acknowledged. why are capable, competent women such as Lisa Singh, still fighting for recognition of their ability?

Need for strike

IF the conservative side of politics hate unions so much, why do they wilfully and persistently create such a dire need for them? (“Teachers strike”, Mercury, September 13).

Finding racism

THE Serena Williams cartoon causing such a stir amongst the snowflakes simply shows how easy it is to find racism where none exists. Won’t be long before KFC and Maccas are banned in Australia because serving their wares here constitutes racial appropriation.

Insights

DAMON Thomas may be right when he says the local government election is not a plebiscite on the cable car (Talking Point, September 13), but it does give Hobartians an insight into whether a candidate is anti- or pro-development in their general approach. A few platitudes in the brochure that comes with the ballot paper do not speak as loudly as a stance on a major project.