The new shape of Australian politics.

The article by George Megalogenis in the current issue of the "Quarterly Essay" is ,of course, very well written and prescient, but there is an alternative outcome. The idea that Australia has to achieve government,utilising the existing political party system is a fallacy.

Since we adopted the ,so- called, Westminster system at the time of Federation, it was based upon the historical fact that, when England finally adopted the concept of parliament ie. it used political parties to establish Government. As probably the first advance toward true democracy anywhere in the world at that time, it became accepted as the way to the future. We all know that the Poms. continue to rely on that system to this day. Of course, the USA as it became established, also adopted similar notions. Apparently, some European nations had also followed these systems as well, but the concept of political parties as we know them, really only came into use during the 1700/1800's. Unfortunately, they were never truly democratic and that circumstance prevails to this day.

Even here in Australia, political parties were not recognised by the constitution until 1977.

The founding of the Movement for Better Government in 2021 offers an alternative to government by political parties. Political parties have no doubt served a purpose since they replaced earlier means of government but have inevitably, abused and corrupted their activities to the benefit of self- interest.

The concept of the MBG (www.movementforbettergovernment.com.au) is to bring about a parliament of independent members selected and installed by their electorates. Those members, thus installed, would be directly answerable to their electorate and of course to the interests of the nation. A booklet has been published to explain the ideas of the movement and is of course available on line. This is a genuine grassroots movement established as a not- for- profit business, simply to register a website. The modus operandi is to achieve a huge membership in each and every electorate of Australia. No membership or joining fees will be asked, although in the course of time members, will be asked to donate nominal amounts when elections are imminint . While membership in the movement has a long way to go to achieve the necessary numbers required, the movement is pressing on with its drive to eventually bring about the transition of Australia, to a nation of true democracy. In achieving this form of government the cost of running parliament and government will be substantially reduced, with savings mounting to billions of dollars every year. Please become a member?