tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post1516082172809548629..comments2024-02-11T19:28:27.997+11:00Comments on Personal Reflections: Rebuilding the role of MP as representativeJim Belshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-50520938569251559452011-09-22T17:16:49.977+10:002011-09-22T17:16:49.977+10:00Same reaction, kvd. Just plain depressing. The par...Same reaction, kvd. Just plain depressing. The party machines know that something is wrong, experiments with new types of preselections are one example, but neither the parliamentary nor organisational wings can really address the problem.<br /><br />I fear that you may have triggered another post!Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-76021042676364599422011-09-22T16:00:51.507+10:002011-09-22T16:00:51.507+10:00I guess what hit home to me were the comments refe...I guess what hit home to me were the comments referenced in your "Samara" link re the general impotence and frustration of the retired MPs. Largely laid at the feet of the party machine and its control/influence upon what they considered to be their duty/role.<br /><br />kvdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-17545203687214045112011-09-22T15:44:29.455+10:002011-09-22T15:44:29.455+10:00I don't think that I'm arguing total freed...I don't think that I'm arguing total freedom from party constraints, kvd. I don't think that that's possible nor even desirable. I am arguing for a rethink on the role of MPs, a correction too often assumptions about role built into current discussions.Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-21157694118638965432011-09-22T12:16:58.505+10:002011-09-22T12:16:58.505+10:00Fair enough Jim. And I must confess to being a bi...Fair enough Jim. And I must confess to being a bit contrary with my comments, just to see where the conversation might go.<br /><br />But on the point of better representation, free of party dictates, I dunno how you could ever achieve that with open voting.<br /><br />kvdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-19075543419077310672011-09-22T06:33:45.136+10:002011-09-22T06:33:45.136+10:00Good morning, kvd. I don't accept the comparis...Good morning, kvd. I don't accept the comparison because the roles are different.<br /><br />I believe that official advice to Government needs a degree of protection because that is necessary to make the system work. I believe that public voting in Parliament is necessary for the same reason. <br /><br />There are circumstances where a secret vote in Parliament can be helpful such as election of officials. I have no problems with confidentiality of party room discussions. But when it comes to actual debate and voting on legislation, then I want to know for present and future historical reasons.Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-71380082725305995642011-09-21T18:59:35.165+10:002011-09-21T18:59:35.165+10:00Jim
Just to record it, because it strikes me as r...Jim<br /><br />Just to record it, because it strikes me as relevant to this openness and accountability issue.<br /><br />Driving this morning, I listened to the NSW Minister for Transport phone in to Ray Hadley on 2GB to explain the rail trackwork maintenance schedule for the rugby league grand final Sunday. <br /><br />(It seems a particular line into somewhere in Sydney's north west will be closed from 10 p.m. that night, the timing rejigged to allow for the supporters to get home- and Hadley had been going on about it. And then the Minister phoned!)<br /><br />Hadley suggested that 11 p.m. was more appropriate. The minister screwed up her courage and suggested that the plans were adequate, allowing reasonable time. Hadley disagreed, in a manner which 'invited' the minister to reconsider.<br /><br />Personally I found the whole concept of a minister of the Crown being quizzed in such a fashion in such an arena to be quite demeaning.<br /><br />kvdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-5914603914190898712011-09-21T18:28:18.624+10:002011-09-21T18:28:18.624+10:00Jim
How your member votes and why is surely up to...Jim<br /><br />How your member votes and why is surely up to him, without reference to your approval or agreement? Except at the next ballot box. I would think you'd probably vote for an intelligent person able to bring a balanced view to the many issues placed before him, with access to information you may never have, on issues not even on the horizon when you cast your (secret) vote.<br /><br />Thinking further on it, you yourself were part of departmental deliberations, the whole basis of which was that they were your considered unbiased opinions on issues as they arose. And yet those opinions were subject to the rule of government 'secrecy' in that nothing regarding the detail of your deliberations would be released for 30 years.<br /><br />And yet you wish your member to be immediately, openly accountable on a day to day basis for every decision?<br /><br />There's are disconnect in there somewhere - is my polite response.<br /><br />kvdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-15228146318145718112011-09-21T18:06:12.834+10:002011-09-21T18:06:12.834+10:00Hi both
Evan,its interesting that the parties the...Hi both<br /><br />Evan,its interesting that the parties themselves are being driven to new preselection approaches as a way of countering electorate disillusion for those approaches actually favour the rep role. <br /><br />Still, I agree with your general point. I guess that I would argue that it's also partly our own fault. Few challenge the corporatist jargon used about MP selection.<br /><br />kvd, I have problems with your questions suggestion and with secret voting in parliament. The first would seem to be a denial of member freedom in just the way that the present system is. I want to expand member freedom, not limit it! <br /><br />On the second, I actually want to know how my MP votes and why.Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-77493625150515914912011-09-21T18:00:05.115+10:002011-09-21T18:00:05.115+10:00p.s. Sorry for spellos/typos. 4 a.m. start to a &...p.s. Sorry for spellos/typos. 4 a.m. start to a 'hard day at the office' is my only excuse.<br /><br />kvdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-86116219094704535082011-09-21T17:49:13.271+10:002011-09-21T17:49:13.271+10:00Further I guess one objection to my 'black box...Further I guess one objection to my 'black box' might be that the Member is not visibly accountable for his vote on any matter.<br /><br />I think I'd balance that against the farce of party line voting, and decide in favour of getting a somewhat more independent vote on any issue.<br /><br />And besides, 'secret' is how we caste our votes in the first place, so why the need for open voting thereafter?<br /><br />kvdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-86750081598540466962011-09-21T17:29:13.984+10:002011-09-21T17:29:13.984+10:00Interesting comments Jim, as was your previous pos...Interesting comments Jim, as was your previous post.<br /><br />My tuppence would be to make the Speaker truly independent; perhaps drawn from a panel of retired judges, rotating weekly during sittings.<br /><br />Then I'd propose that all questions be written submissions to the Speaker for his/her sole discretion as to which is permitted to see the light of day. (A bit of an up-market QandA approach)<br /><br />OT (and I'm told I'm rather good at that) I'd also suggest a form of 'secret ballot' for all parliamentary voting. MP's are always banging on about the unions over this, so why not provide each MP with yay/nay buttons to press, instead of the total waste of time Divisions seem to be? It could be hidden in a little box at each seat - reminiscent of the good old 'black ball' approach to club memberships when they actually used to signify something. <br /><br />That would remove the power of the party to direct a member's vote, and would allow to the member what would basically be a conscience vote on every matter.<br /><br />kvdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-70789708036034627112011-09-21T11:22:58.131+10:002011-09-21T11:22:58.131+10:00I doubt it Jim. I think the problem is the domina...I doubt it Jim. I think the problem is the dominance of the parties and the professionalisation of politics.<br /><br />(I even heard Drew Hutton defend professionalism in politics! Though this was a few years ago, he may have learned some things since.)<br /><br />It would take reform to party funding and change to selection processes I think.Evanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13355215688351759230noreply@blogger.com