Comments on: How to become a federal MP: the minor parties http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/28/how-to-become-a-federal-mp-part-3-the-minor-parties/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 07:14:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Georgina Smith http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/28/how-to-become-a-federal-mp-part-3-the-minor-parties/#comment-43494 Georgina Smith Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:16:51 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/28/how-to-become-a-federal-mp-part-3-the-minor-parties/#comment-43494 Ha, lol, pull the other one FF - too big to hold a grassroots preselection?! Yet somehow the Greens, who routinely get around 10% of the vote, somehow manage it. Astonishing. Ha, lol, pull the other one FF - too big to hold a grassroots preselection?! Yet somehow the Greens, who routinely get around 10% of the vote, somehow manage it. Astonishing.

]]> By: David Mendelssohn http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/28/how-to-become-a-federal-mp-part-3-the-minor-parties/#comment-43285 David Mendelssohn Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:58:24 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/28/how-to-become-a-federal-mp-part-3-the-minor-parties/#comment-43285 My only quibble with what is an excellent survey (including quite correctly treating the Nationals as a minor party) is saying that the Democrats process "remained broadly the same, and mirrored, for the most part, that of the Greens". I agree it is broadly the same but it is in fact the Greens process that mirrors that of the Democrats, not the other way round, as the Democrats had these processes well established long before the Greens appeared on the scene. My only quibble with what is an excellent survey (including quite correctly treating the Nationals as a minor party) is saying that the Democrats process “remained broadly the same, and mirrored, for the most part, that of the Greens”. I agree it is broadly the same but it is in fact the Greens process that mirrors that of the Democrats, not the other way round, as the Democrats had these processes well established long before the Greens appeared on the scene.

]]> By: denise allen http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/28/how-to-become-a-federal-mp-part-3-the-minor-parties/#comment-43257 denise allen Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:45:27 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/28/how-to-become-a-federal-mp-part-3-the-minor-parties/#comment-43257 The trouble is...many electorates would be well served by a really good independent...unfortunately an independent cannot compete with the funding both major parties throw at winning seats...often just get up a factional hack. Take McEwen for example - the sitting Liberal only holds the seat by 22 votes so both major parties will be throwing everything but the kitchen sink at it in 2010 to win it.....an independent simply cant compete unless they have a very wealthy benefactor behind them. And another thing.....voters are always complaining about the major parties and politicians in general but when they have an opportunity to vote for an independent they rarely do....they would rather bet on the fact that an MP who belongs to a major party can do more for them and when they dont the voters again complain like crazy! Then again - as an MP for a major party...if you support party policy against the constituents the constituents hate you and if you support the constituents against party policy the party hates you! But an independent can truly represent their constituency. Go figure. The trouble is…many electorates would be well served by a really good independent…unfortunately an independent cannot compete with the funding both major parties throw at winning seats…often just get up a factional hack. Take McEwen for example - the sitting Liberal only holds the seat by 22 votes so both major parties will be throwing everything but the kitchen sink at it in 2010 to win it…..an independent simply cant compete unless they have a very wealthy benefactor behind them. And another thing…..voters are always complaining about the major parties and politicians in general but when they have an opportunity to vote for an independent they rarely do….they would rather bet on the fact that an MP who belongs to a major party can do more for them and when they dont the voters again complain like crazy! Then again - as an MP for a major party…if you support party policy against the constituents the constituents hate you and if you support the constituents against party policy the party hates you! But an independent can truly represent their constituency. Go figure.

]]> By: Luke Miller http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/28/how-to-become-a-federal-mp-part-3-the-minor-parties/#comment-43254 Luke Miller Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:40:55 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/28/how-to-become-a-federal-mp-part-3-the-minor-parties/#comment-43254 The current Democrats executive would probably hate being called "(New) Australian Democrats". New Democrats was the member-oriented website set up by the 2008-09 executive that the 2009-10 mob shut down in September (illegally in my opinion). I believe there's an article about it on crikey: http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/09/21/democrats-brave-foray-into-21st-century-hits-a-snag/ If there is a rebranding effort in the Democrats it is involving a push to use a giant D as the new logo. They are having a ballot on it at the moment. As for candidate selection, I know Victoria has a selection committee still but I haven't heard about any others. So your comments that they don't "exist in most states" is probably accurate. Hope that helps. The current Democrats executive would probably hate being called “(New) Australian Democrats”. New Democrats was the member-oriented website set up by the 2008-09 executive that the 2009-10 mob shut down in September (illegally in my opinion). I believe there’s an article about it on crikey:
http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/09/21/democrats-brave-foray-into-21st-century-hits-a-snag/

If there is a rebranding effort in the Democrats it is involving a push to use a giant D as the new logo. They are having a ballot on it at the moment.

As for candidate selection, I know Victoria has a selection committee still but I haven’t heard about any others. So your comments that they don’t “exist in most states” is probably accurate.

Hope that helps.

]]> By: Andrew Crook http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/28/how-to-become-a-federal-mp-part-3-the-minor-parties/#comment-43231 Andrew Crook Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:47:09 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/28/how-to-become-a-federal-mp-part-3-the-minor-parties/#comment-43231 Thanks Ben, altered now. Thanks Ben, altered now.

]]> By: Ben Raue http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/28/how-to-become-a-federal-mp-part-3-the-minor-parties/#comment-43219 Ben Raue Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:27:57 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/28/how-to-become-a-federal-mp-part-3-the-minor-parties/#comment-43219 I think the reference to the Greens requiring six members to nominate a candidate is only applicable to NSW. That sort of requirement would vary from state to state. I think the reference to the Greens requiring six members to nominate a candidate is only applicable to NSW. That sort of requirement would vary from state to state.

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