One need is to carry out consistently a scheme of proportional representation:
(1) In Senate elections,
use Robson
Rotation, and either abolish “above-the-line” voting, or
distribute above-the-line votes in a Robson rotation pattern.
With these changes the Australian Senate would be elected by
Hare-Clark-Robson, as is used for the ACT
Legislative
Assembly and the Tasmanian House of Assembly.
(2) Consolidate House of
Representatives constituencies into multi-member
constituencies elected by Hare-Clark-Robson.
(The number of representatives to a constituency could differ,
say 7 in major cities, 5 or 3 in other cities or towns; and
country electorates could keep just one representative, but
with Robson Rotation—for how that could be done see here.)
Proportional representation would make it unlikely that one party would be able to form a government that can ignore and defy the views of MPs who don’t belong to the governing party. Debate in Parliament would become more genuine.
Another need is to improve the quality of political discussion in the community, with better connection between citizens and politicians:
(3) For each constituency there should be something like the Canberra Forum, or some form of “citizens jury”. “Voices” groups could select independent candidates to stand in the multi-member constituencies, or they could independently endorse a candidate nominated by a party. These forums/juries/voices would facilitate discussion in the electorate and enable politicians to be better informed about what their constituents think.
For more, see my submission to JSCEM
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