“In the
pursuit of Democracy"
*TAKING UP THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE FOR ALL
AUSTRALIANS*
Democracy and
electoral reform 2011
Democracy is the corner stone of society; it allows the
people to rule by way of the election of political representatives by way of a
free and informed choice.
In an honest and perfect world Australia’s system of
democracy works well, if indeed the outcome complied with the forewords “Free
will of an informed electorate”;
Our present system fails from the onset, one MUST attend,
one MUST prefer every candidate, the counting of votes MUST benefit the 2 major
parties and one BEST not know who the candidates are, in itself defeats any
ideal of honest democracy, in regards to the ideal of Free and informed
outcomes.
The electoral systems in Australia continues to suffer from
increased structural biases as a direct result of those who write the electoral
legislation having the most to gain from such biases rather than a truly
independent authority basing their decisions on what the people themselves
deserve or demand.
The media in general do not help matters with their sights
set squarely on the leaders of the 2 major parties Labor and Liberal, the same
2 who dictate electoral law and seem to control democracy on every front. While
the media keep their sites set on the leaders, we tend to forget that the
parties choose their leaders not we the people.
Representation by the people for the people fails
immediately, as does the ability of our representatives to connect with those
they are employed to represent, when democracy becomes dictated to us rather
than working in our best interests.
It has become evident that the current “Two Party system”
has become a failure, with most candidates and members from with in their
ranks, pledging allegiance to the party to secure nominations, rather than to
the people and the best interests of Australia.
Most Australians would have very little insight into the 2
party machinery, questions about who dictates their policy directives also
stain democracy, do the un-elected with in their ranks decide our destiny?
The facts are, even if we had an honest and fair electoral
system, these parties would still have a huge advantage over any minor players,
simply by way of ingrained media support and huge financial advantage
compliments of taxpayer dollars with out even mentioning the big dollar support
form their corporate friends.
One could easily imagine with so much power awarded to the 2
party system, they have little reason to fear the people, as in most cases they
end up with our vote regardless, there is a very famous saying that sums it up "When
governments fear the people, there is
liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny”
Ideal democracy is very easy to achieve, easy and equal access to
information on the candidates and their ideals, freedom of choice as to whether
we are inspired to vote and whom we prefer, and ensuring the counting of votes
results in the most preferred candidate being elected to represent the “will of
the people”, yet our current system denies us all of this.
To Back up these ideals, we need to be certain those elected by the
people make decisions based on their conscience and our best interests,
something the dictatorial 2 party machine restricts, with most current members
voting along the party line (set party policy) rather than in the best
interests of the electorate they are paid to represent.
There are many recent changes to electoral legislation and general
conduct that further undermine the democracy we all deserve; these can be put
into 3 categories, Law, Election conduct and Dodgy practices.
LAW; State Electoral Acts differ from state to state, and the Federal
Act is again unique, so I will include a few examples :
- The
electoral commission can guess your intention, further than what you mark
on your ballot, effectively changing your vote.
- Some Ballot
papers have blank squares which is where you vote for a candidate, usually
Independents, a law designed to ensure the parties are empowered rather
then the people.
- The use of
Pencils, including the issue of rubbers for staff and allowing changes to
the ballot papers in every case.
- Laws that
ensure the results of a general election stand regardless of the conduct
or the count.
- Legislation
that ensures electoral promises need not be kept.
ELECTION CONDUCT; - Information
on the candidates and voting tickets going missing
- Polling
booths running out of Ballot papers
- Regular
voters names being removed from the electoral roll
- Postal
ballot papers going missing in the tens of thousands
- Parties
sending out postal ballot applications with the return pre paid envelope
addresses to their party office
- People
turned away from polling booths based on how they are dressed
- Lack of
transparent and educated support of our needy in hospitals and nursing
homes, including reports of undue influence.
- Identity
theft and multiple voting issues
- Out of date
and dodgy inclusions on the electoral rolls
- Ignorance by
polling booth staff to their duty to assist the public
DODGY PRACTICES
- Political
parties dressing up as opposition parties and handing out dodgy how to
vote information
- Parties
registering opposition leaders names as “Reply paid addresses” so voters
who send information to their preferred party, find their information is
going to the opposite party.
- Misinformation,
and false promises to secure your vote
- Deliberate
lies to secure office
- Elected
officials refusing to take the oath required under the constitution to
hold office (both Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard refused to take the oath
required under the constitution)
- Commonwealth
solicitors attacking our common law right to a vote.
The electoral commissioner under section the Act, (SA section 8) is
responsible for the proper conduct of elections under the Act and for the
carrying out of appropriate programmes of publicity and public education, to
“Ensure that the public is adequately informed of their democratic rights and
obligations, yet surveys carried out during and prior to elections confirms a
huge majority had no idea of their rights and obligations, so consider who
employs and chooses the electoral commissioner.
The Electoral Commissioner MUST keep the electoral rolls up to date, yet
they are not, The Electoral Commissioner MUST have certain equipment and
information for use in the polling booths on the day of the election, yet they
are not,
Ask your self and your friends if they feel so informed, and while you
are at it, also ask why “how to vote guides” are no longer supplied to the
electorate. The courts have concluded that the interpretation is about how to
vote, not who your choices are, and they still fail on that front. So whose job
is it to ensure we are informed about our choices you may ask?
The courts
answered with the media, but cases against the media have concluded they are a
private entity and answer to themselves, talking about passing the buck on any
chance we have of honest democracy.
In 2007 I argued voters intention, as the Electoral Act says, 94 (6)
Where (a) a ballot paper has not been
marked by a voter in the manner required by this
Act; but
(b) despite that fact, the
voter's intention is clear,
the ballot paper is not informal and will be counted as if the voter's
intention had been
properly expressed in the manner required by this Act.
The outcome was your intention can be guesses by the commission, to
ensure the vote counts for the major parties, even if you did not mark any of
the squares on the ballot paper next to either.
YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE ELECTORAL ACT.
You have the right to receive a ballot paper, regardless of whether or
not your name in on the electoral roll, you have the right to a replacement
ballot paper if you make a mistake, you have the right to access all the
candidates details and the right to voting ticket information (preference
deals) in the polling booth, you have the right to enter the booth regardless
of your dress sense, yet these rights are not always awarded.
The Constitution gives you the right (entitlement) to vote, and to vote
only once, yet this is not policed, neither is your identity or registered
address, and your vote can be transferred to a candidate you refused to prefer,
this is not honest democracy.
THE REFORM I BELIEVE SHOULD BE DEMANDED BY THE ALLIANCE;
- A voting
booklet to every home, explaining how to vote, the electorate’s rights and
obligations and all the candidates and their contact details.
- Identity to
be produced prior to receiving the ballot papers.
- Voting and
preferencing to be optional
- An independent
Authority to oversee electoral reform and police election conduct.
- The
introduction of accountability for electoral promises
- All ballot
papers to have candidates details along side their voting squares
- The
introduction of a rotating ballot paper in regards to the candidates names
to eliminate “how to vote cards” and “The benefits of donkey votes to any
one candidate.
- All ballot
papers to be filled in with a permanent marker, and any mistakes to be
allotted a new ballot paper.
- General
election disputes to be based on merit with the support of the electoral
authority.
- Regular
enrollment checks and balances.
IN CONCLUSION
The government and the opposition are only interested in winning
elections, not ensuring your rights or any form of fair play or a fair go, the
electoral commission’s in general are willing to turn a blind eye and ignore
their duties to the electorate, and the media are only interested in who the
parties elect as leaders, not in public education.
o it is up to we the people to demand change, to use the system as best
we can to elect honest people that can fight for electoral reform, and the
Alliance Australia is the only lobby group specializing in demanding honest
reform, and supporting those groups and candidates who support these same
ideals for change, and every patriotic Australian who will stand shoulder to
shoulder with us.
Every elected member should be working together in the best interests of
the country full stop!
Mark M Aldridge
Independent Candidate and Proud member of the Alliance Australia
Independent Candidate for the Ramsay By-election
