Independents taking the politics out of politics

As one commenter on Tasmanian Times has advised: “Rob Oakeshott and the other four independents need all the support they can get.”

I think it is important to seize what I see as a two pronged momentum in Australian politics:

[A]. The constructive initiatives for democratic reform – unwinding party-self-interest democracy, limiting or eliminating political party donations, electoral candidate equity, two-party domination, ‘the safe seat’ monopolies, the scope of what ‘electoral mandate’ entails, preferential voting, branch stacking, party internal sacking of elected leaders (the power of the infamous ‘faceless’ ones), our colonial constitution, parliamentary reforms to reduce the confrontation nature of the law making process, etc, etc.

[B]. The paradigm shift in two-party preparedness to accept power-sharing minority governments – useful recent examples being the Tasmania State Election, the UK election, Solomon Islands election

Indeed, in relation to [A] the three independents have proposed seven key demands of Labor and the Coalition as they decide who they will support to form a minority government.

1. Access to economic advice from Treasury secretary Ken Henry and Finance secretary David Tune including the impact of election promises of Labor and Coalition on budget bottom line. Access to incoming briefs provided by public service to the new government on how to implement their plans.

2. Briefings from secretaries of departments of; Broadband, Health, Education, Employment and Workplace relations, Infrastructure, Transport and regional development, Agriculture, Climate Change, Defence, Resources.

3. Briefings from caretaker ministers and shadow ministers of above portfolios on their plans for next three years.

4. Advice on each side’s plans to make improvements to parliamentary procedures and private members business.

5. A commitment from both sides to explore “consensus options” which would provide for a majority greater than the bare 76 seats needed and consideration on how relationship between both houses could be improved.

6. Negotiations to be conducted in good faith, a commitment from whoever forms government to complete a three-year term.

7. A timetable for reform to political donations, electoral advertising, and fundraising.

[Source: ABC, ‘Where it’s at: Independents’ seven key demands ‘by political correspondent Emma Rodgers, 26-Aug-10 (today)]

Importantly, the major party faithful that shun and deny independents their rights on the basis of a utilitarian view are a serious danger to such reforms. Case in point is today’s The Australian opinioned column by political editor Dennis Shanahan, who questions the legitimacy of the independents’ power to influence the final electoral outcome.

Shanahan argues that since “more than 90 per cent of Australians voted for Labor, the Coalition or the Greens” these majors (‘the old-paradigm parties’) have the legitimacy. Shanahan recommends holding another election to bring back the old paradigm. [Source: The Australian, ‘Forget three amigos, let’s go back to polls’ by political editor Dennis Shanahan, 26-Aug10.]

The danger is that the old paradigm will perpetuate the interests of the major parties. Voters are fed up with the major parties looking after self interests and voters are more aware of this now. It is the independents that are initiating real change and there is a healthy reform momentum in what the independents are asking.

Most helpful for the voices of independents such as like Rob Oakeshott to build mainstream acceptance of the valuable contribution of independents is that people counter these old-paradigm arguments and expose them for what they are – party protectionist.

The independents, though in the minority nationally, have been legitimately elected by the people. They present an emerging unaligned free thinking electorate, and co-operatively, the best chance for democratic reform. As American politician Adlai Ewing Stevenson II once said “an Independent is someone who wants to take the politics out of politics.”

Steven Ridd, BBus (Mgt), Commercial Helicopter Pilot, Business Analyst and editor of habitat conservation website – The Habitat Advocate HERE (in in TT links under Think). Based in the Blue Mountains, NSW and occasional Tasmania eco-tourist. (Age 46)