Between the time that I submit this column and it is read a federal budget will be outlined and an election date possibly announced. Then for the next 6 or 7 Saturdays we will be bombarded with ‘don’t trust them’ advertising and lots of ‘Clayton’s’ (remember the drink you have when you’re not having a drink) election promises, the promises you make when not making a promise. It is easy to understand why people switch-off to the advertising or choose an alternative to the main parties to highlight their frustration. Is there a better way? What if voting wasn’t compulsory? Would that change the way the party’s campaign? Of course, the fear of not making voting compulsory is that a minority of Australian will determine the make-up of the government. However, the present system can result in a winner receiving less than 50% of the overall vote even after preferences. And look at how many votes are needed for some senators to get on the gravy train!
So how might the campaigning change? Likely it would force the advertiser (candidate) to make two calls of action, vote and vote for me. Now, not having had to ask people before to just come out and vote, how would they do it? Relying on the Australian Electoral Commission advertisements calling for people to register and then to vote, if it was optional, could be dangerous when about 9% of those registered to vote didn’t bother in the last federal election, despite it being compulsory. This was the lowest turnout so far. I suspect that might change 6 to 7 Saturdays from now though. Imagine a candidate feeling compelled to justify why you should vote and then how. Then what if the federal government gave each House of Representative candidate $60000 for their campaign and that was all they could spend. No donors allowed, automatic dismissal if elected and imprisonment, whether elected or not, if found donations were accepted. The $60000 only payable if the candidate got more than 5% of the vote to avoid more people wanting to run for election than vote in it. Have we now got the makings of an interesting 6 weeks of campaigning? Would balance minded independents be more likely to stand knowing that the odds of winning are no longer nearly insurmountable? Could we end up with a better government or would it be worse? We will never know as no matter which major party wins, and how much more of their primary vote they lose to, the alternatives the present system provide, despite its glaring faults, suits them and they won’t change it. Despite this it is important that we do take an active interest in the election and decide on the candidate who is most likely going to truly fight for the values you hold. To not take an active interest, not make a valid informed vote, damages the democracy we should hold so dear. Try to look past the negativity and the fluff of this campaign to the core of the candidate. Hopefully some will dare to expose theirs. The more attention we pay to how we are governed the better we are governed.