THE naked political ambition of the Palaszczuk government has been exposed in its brutal reintroduction of compulsory preferential voting.
In a move that sidelined the principles of parliamentary reform set down by Fitzgerald, the Palaszczuk government has again shown that the retention of power is more important to Labor than the delivery of government based on sound democratic principles.
While it is reasonable that compulsory preferential voting is considered by parliament, the Palaszczuk government gave Queensland’s elected representatives exactly 18 minutes notice to consider the alternative voting system.
The reintroduction of compulsory preferential voting was achieved as amendments to laws to increase the size of the parliament from 89 to 93 seats. At no stage was the reintroduction of compulsory preferential voting properly considered.
The move is political chicanery at its worst and exactly the reason voters have every right to be bitterly disappointed in the political process where Queenslanders have been cynically exploited.
Not surprisingly, Labor was until the formation of the LNP a staunch supporter of optional preferential voting.
The reason for its previous support was because it served as a guaranteed meal ticket at the ballot box.
The optional voting system exposed the schism between the then autonomous National and Liberal parties. It also greatly helped the rise of breakaway political organisations including One Nation.
Under an optional system, the vote is exhausted if the elector simply marks one on the ballot paper. Under an compulsory system the vote is effectively captured.
It was a system used to remarkable effect by then Premier Peter Beattie in his long running campaign to belt the bush for his own political gain.
However, the unification of conservative politics under the LNP and at the same time the split in the left vote between Labor and the Greens has seen the boot placed firmly on the other foot.
The optional system that had served Labor so well, had become a liability.
However, instead of questioning why Labor support has fallen and setting about reforming itself to suit, Labor has chosen the soft and politically expedient option of capturing the leaking green vote by effectively rorting the system.
