THANKFULLY the federal election is just about over with most Australians bored to death after what seems an eternity of political argy bargy, including the spin and promises that are seldom honoured after an election.
Perhaps that explains why politics in Australia is rapidly changing with only 60 per cent of Australians now rusted on to any one party, with about a 50:50 split to both the ALP and conservatives.
Political parties therefore now focus all their attention on marginal seats trying to bribe the 40pc of poor hapless voters living in those seats who have no allegiance to either major party.
The changing political allegiance is making the major parties concerned, because 28pc of voters are now opting for independents or minor parties. This is growing rapidly as disenchantment with politics increases.
The Greeks, who invented democracy, would not recognise today’s party political system, as they had a system of many independent members.
Farmers traditionally are conservative supporters, but as political campaigns become more expensive and political parties are forced to access large amounts of money to run their campaigns, they often get accused of selling out to the party donors who sometimes have anti-farmer agendas.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the contest between mining and agriculture.
Farmers are much better informed today with ready access to information from their traditional sources such as The Land and local papers, but also using new tools such as emails, Twitter and Facebook, which makes it increasingly difficult for politicians to get away with indiscretions.
It is no longer possible for politicians to vote for an issue in Canberra then go back to the bush and rubbish what they have just supported, because social media rapidly exposes the truth.
This election, we could likely see the further complication in the Senate if Malcolm Turnbull wins, because Australians are in the habit of ensuring the Senate is never controlled by the party that has the numbers in the lower house.
Turnbull’s agenda could therefore be stalled in the upper house, as those elected Senators believe they have a mandate as they are elected by the people as well.
Australia’s democracy would be greatly strengthened if the population had a better understanding of what the 260,000 federal and 450,000 NSW government bureaucrats do and then perhaps they would not let politicians get away with the rubbish some of them say when in the bush.
Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill famously said democracy is the worst form of government except all the rest.
So, we have to hope when Malcolm Turnbull gets re-elected he will have enough grace and good will to work with those independents or minor parties the Australian people elect.
