CRAIG COMMENTS
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Political Football
17 October 2001

An inscription in the vestibule of Parliament House in Melbourne states, "Where there is no counsel the people fall but in the multitude of councillors there is safety." This biblical quotation points out that where power is concentrated there is danger to the people. The protection against this danger is to have many representatives advising those in power.

Our political system was devised long before the development of radio and television provided instant communication over the whole of the world. It is a product of times when election campaigns were localised and candidates had to impress voters with their ideas and their talents in putting credible and persuasive arguments. The successful candidates were those best able to voice the opinions of the people they were elected to represent and it was they who decided who should lead the country..

All Australians should be alarmed that our election campaigns are becoming a battle between two Leaders and the future of the Nation could hinge on whether one or other of them had a sleepless night and created a bad impression at a critical time. The concentration of power in Leaders can result in candidates who would not make the grade on their own talents being dragged across the line by a charismatic Leader.

This is following the American Presidential style of government but without the protection for ordinary people built into the Constitution of that country. The President is concerned solely with government and does not have direct control of the Congress even if his own party controls it. The selection of candidates is a long and very public process. As history shows, even that does not guarantee results. All Americans have the right to vote for the person that they want to hold that office. A simple majority of Members of either the Liberal or the Labor Party will decide who is Prime Minister. National Party Members have no say at all. Rural people effectively have no influence on who should lead this country.

For the next month, Australians will be blasted mercilessly with political advertising and political reporters will complain that the campaign is boring. As the Editorial in Monday's Bairnsdale Advertiser so rightly stated, there is "an essential sameness of our political parties" and nothing dramatic will happen whichever side wins.

That is the danger for rural Australia. There needs to be dramatic change in government policies if country towns are to survive. The Leaders of this nation must have the courage to say " enough is enough" and stop pouring taxpayers money into cities. In an hour long "debate" neither Leader even mentioned rural Australia. What does our own Member stand for - National, Coalition or Liberal policies? Does he have three hats? As an Independent Member of Parliament, I think the message is clear.

Once again, "The Addy" editorial hits the nail on the head. It is vital that people have the "ability to tell the difference between short term personal benefits and long term national survival".

page last edited: 07-Sep-2001