I agree with Peter Needham’s (Mercury, letters, April 13) condemnation of our party-dominated State Assembly and government.
Unlike much of Australia and overseas, our Upper House and municipal and student councils have always been little tainted by party politics.
Like many others of the majority who have never been in a party, I think we’d be better off without parties.
But there have always been a few worthwhile party members in Parliament.
I agree with him that our Upper House should become the Executive Council (cabinet) of 15, based on the five Assembly electorates, but many potential ministers (businessmen, professionals, academics, bureaucrats, advisers) dislike campaigning.
Use Hare-Clark to elect two non-party members per electorate. These ten would then choose the other five, who could be from anywhere: losing candidates or the best non-candidates in the State, even the odd worthy party member.
I also disagree with completely excluding party members (they’re not convicted criminals) from the legislative assembly of 25, but one can easily tweak Hare-Clark so that in each electorate no more than one of each party’s candidates is elected.
About half the body would then be independent, and even the party members would be less obliged to toe the line, as their vote could not bring down a government.
Each of the two bodies should have the power to sack one of its members, but only for extreme misconduct. And there should be severe limits on campaign spending, with expenses by those elected reimbursed.
Tony Manley, BA(Hons), MACS, retired branch director Commonwealth Public Service, former member of the University Council and various other university bodies, Presiding Officer Tasmania University Union Elections Tribunal.
