Since the result of the 2010 Australian federal election, the issue of whether or not the health of Australia’s liberal democracy necessitating a two party system is debated academically. In this essay it is argued that a two party system is not essential thus the opposing proposition not confirmed by the result of the election. Relevant and contemporary arguments are presented in support of the premise that a hung parliament is of benefit to the health of Australia’s liberal democracy. First, academic definitions of Australia’s liberal democracy and tow party system are discussed. Second, research shows a two party system as an elitist system supported by neo liberalists and an affront to liberal democratic principles. The third argument depicts
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Miragliotta, Errington and Barry (2013) define proportional representation elections as a system designed for votes to correspond with the allocations of seats in parliament. Amy (2006) defines instant runoff voting or “preferential voting” (Miragliotta, Errington & Barry, 2013, p. 155) as complex forms of candidate elimination whereby voters are instructed to fill out a ballot numbering their candidate preferences in order with how to vote cards. Subsequently for the two major parties to gain legislative majority, the lowest candidates are removed from contention and such votes transferred by the alternative voting method until enough of either major party candidates win. This system ensures a majority win and avoids the issues such as the cost, involved in further elections. The author argues that the overall result of transferring votes is not representative of the people in which it represents. In other words, the disillusionment is in the process by which a vote is only given worth if transferred to a major party thus a fake majority. This fake or manufactured majority implies minorities have no representation because their policy preferences are largely overlooked (Amy, 2006). This process highlights another political disillusionment by which the two-party-system is based on neoliberal ideals funded by the “power elite” (Miragliotta, Errington & …show more content…
It is estimated that 4% of Australians earn on or above $180,000 and the super-rich elite account for 0.027% of Australia’s population (Hodgson, 2014; Radio National, 2014) The two-party-system in Australia such as the Australian Labor Party on the centre left wing and the Coalition between the Liberal Party and the National Party on the right wing are influenced by capitalists therefore neoliberal in their approaches to policy creation and implementation. The ALP were traditionally a labour socialist movement protecting society with welfare and social services at the forefront of policy implementation; and the Liberal Party a social
Miragliotta, Errington and Barry (2013) define proportional representation elections as a system designed for votes to correspond with the allocations of seats in parliament. Amy (2006) defines instant runoff voting or “preferential voting” (Miragliotta, Errington & Barry, 2013, p. 155) as complex forms of candidate elimination whereby voters are instructed to fill out a ballot numbering their candidate preferences in order with how to vote cards. Subsequently for the two major parties to gain legislative majority, the lowest candidates are removed from contention and such votes transferred by the alternative voting method until enough of either major party candidates win. This system ensures a majority win and avoids the issues such as the cost, involved in further elections. The author argues that the overall result of transferring votes is not representative of the people in which it represents. In other words, the disillusionment is in the process by which a vote is only given worth if transferred to a major party thus a fake majority. This fake or manufactured majority implies minorities have no representation because their policy preferences are largely overlooked (Amy, 2006). This process highlights another political disillusionment by which the two-party-system is based on neoliberal ideals funded by the “power elite” (Miragliotta, Errington & …show more content…
It is estimated that 4% of Australians earn on or above $180,000 and the super-rich elite account for 0.027% of Australia’s population (Hodgson, 2014; Radio National, 2014) The two-party-system in Australia such as the Australian Labor Party on the centre left wing and the Coalition between the Liberal Party and the National Party on the right wing are influenced by capitalists therefore neoliberal in their approaches to policy creation and implementation. The ALP were traditionally a labour socialist movement protecting society with welfare and social services at the forefront of policy implementation; and the Liberal Party a social