The Greens in the ACT
As I post it looks like the Greens might win the balance of power in the ACT election. Collecting around 16% of the popular vote, this has translated to a member from each electorate for the Greens. This represents not only a victory for the Greens, but also quite rightly it also vindicates the Hare-Clarke electoral system. Although Katie Gallagher and Brendan Smyth on the ABC panel would like to put a favourable spin on it, what has clearly occurred in the election result is that a significant number of voters no longer want to have anything to do with the two major parties. Both parties represent established ways of thinking about things, clearly people have decided enough is enough.
In other equally “non” news, the NSW Labour government has received what looks like a 20% swing against it which would reduce the current Labour team to little more than a rump at the next election. Its a pity the Hare-Clarke proportional system has only been installed in the ACT! It won’t stop the poles from melting but it might give us a say in the colour of our money.