#ausvotes

Endorsement from key stakeholders in the community will assist in forging relationships and meeting the needs of policy within parliament. Instead of its history of alienation, parliament will be far more inclusive of the electorate through consultancy and relationships. Indeed some would say that a more centrist view, the product of minority government, will embrace constituents from both sides and so of itself, perpetuate stability in government.

While the power that the opposition, backbenchers and other minor parties have in parliament is their ability to support a minority government in achieving its legislative goals and defending a vote of no confidence, the government cannot be forced to adopt policies of other members, or act according to the wishes of other members. Members that are party to an accord with a minority government will be able to exact concessions that may amount to action or policy but it will not be unilateral. Certainly backbenchers, minor parties and even the opposition have a far greater chance of having their amendment to legislation affected with a minority government who must compromise if it is to survive. To this end, legislation is not as predictable as when the government has the control of the lower house, but the parliamentary process is the better for a minority government.

Certainly this transformation in how the mechanics of parliament operate, points to an obvious increase in time taken to deliberate over decisions, legislation, and amendments. When they are amended they will be amended to a greater extent due to the compromising nature of all parties within parliament. When they are passed they will appear to take an eon. A distinct increase in the workload of members and their support staff will be realised.

As with constitutional amendment, a minority government does not offer any greater opportunity to reform the parliamentary process than when a majority government is in power, but it is likely if perseverance and dedication are applied to the cause in a relentless pursuit of negotiating support for change. The result of these reforms will no doubt provide for institutions of greater quality and efficiency within parliament, but as the UK and Canada clearly illustrate, parliamentary reform doesn’t occur without individuals in parliament that are committed to discharging a well organized agenda that is maintained with rigor.

The Media

The media bear the responsibility for how the ideology of a minority government is received by the electorate; they are responsible for a notion of domestic stability within the community. While signals will be offered from all public quarters, they will invariably receive treatment from the media who shoulder considerable responsibility in this regard. In the national interest, it is clear that the media must dispense with their own political ideology and support the efforts of 150 Members of Parliament. It is far too easy to paint a minority government, being the product of a hung parliament as the last bastion of hope for a destabilised government and an ineffective parliament. Not only would this be treasonous on the scale of moral wrong s, but it is inaccurate. From an alternate perspective, a hung parliament that spawns a minority government is indeed an opportunity for parliamentary reform, for parliament to get collectively stronger as an institution, and for the majoritarian culture of incumbent governments to give way to negotiation, community consensus, and compromise that reflects sound outcomes for all Australians. The Standing Orders of parliament have a chance of amendment that is the subject of vigorous debate.