Australia's next parliament could be an opportunity to overhaul the way things are done in the halls of power, a progressive think tank has urged.
Boosting the number of parliamentarians elected, limiting the number of Dorothy Dixers during question time and strengthening rules around the grants programs are among the more than 40 proposed reforms across seven key areas outlined in a fresh discussion paper released on Thursday from The Australia Institute.
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Changes to how parliamentary business was conducted, and the working conditions of those who support it was key, while revisiting parliamentary powers and accountability and integrity mechanisms was also listed.
The public policy think tank said May's election would be a chance to rectify many of the criticisms experts had regarding the operation of parliament and the government of the day.
The potential for a hung parliament, with crossbenchers holding the balance of power, meant the 47th parliament was a great opportunity for significant reform, the discussion paper suggested.
Bill Browne, who authored the paper, concluded the minority Labor government led by former prime minister Julia Gillard had showed hung parliaments could be reformative.
"Reform-minded parliamentarians can choose from a smorgasbord of measures that would make government more accountable, ensure public money is better spent and help Parliament operate more smoothly and justly," he said.
"As the 2010-2013 hung parliament shows, these reforms can endure and make a lasting impact on the quality and nature of Australian democracy."
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The paper's release comes as a wave of savvy independents have thrown their hats in the ring for the 2022 federal election.
The candidates, who are mostly women, have centred their campaigns on climate change action and integrity within safe Liberal Party electorates.
Following the success of independent MP for Waringah Zali Steggall in unseating former prime minister Tony Abbott, who had been the member for 25 years, independent candidates are looking to use voter frustration to disrupt safe Coalition seats.
A recent readers' survey conducted by Australian Community Media last month showed climate action rated highest in their choice for federal election issues.
Health, a federal integrity body and the handling of the COVID-19 crisis followed shortly behind.
Sarah Basford Canales
I'm a federal politics and public sector reporter with an interest in national security, integrity and regulation. Contact me with general tips and thoughts at sarah.basfordcanales@canberratimes.com.au or confidential tips to sbasfordcanales@protonmail.com.
I'm a federal politics and public sector reporter with an interest in national security, integrity and regulation. Contact me with general tips and thoughts at sarah.basfordcanales@canberratimes.com.au or confidential tips to sbasfordcanales@protonmail.com.
