From time to time there is talk in Australia of parliamentary reform. Former prime minister Tony Abbott has called for constitutional reform to remove the double dissolution process. Periodically there is interest in fixed parliamentary terms for the Commonwealth parliament. This debate also canvasses whether those terms should be three or four years.
Part of the argument around the need for reform — and in support of such proposals — is that a fragmented Senate impedes the government's program. For some, this represents an interference with democracy represented by a 'mandate' held by a government to prosecute its legislative agenda.
As for fixed, or four year terms, the argument is that the current political cycle is too short, and that this hampers government's capacity to govern. On the other hand, those against fixed terms argue that four years is too long to be stuck with a 'bad' government.
I wonder however if this discussion misses the point about what might be 'wrong' with our political system, and our system of governance.
While there are valid reasons to be concerned about the capacity of a government to govern in the current brief election cycle, and in dealing with what some describe as a 'hostile senate', the networked world we presently inhabit calls into question the way in which politicians might be accountable to the public in the first place.
This suggests the need for a different discussion. In particular, rather than focusing on changes to a system of governance derived from a different era, we should be asking what are the implications of emergent technologies on the way in which we are governed. Such questions include the way in which we vote, how political parties and lobbyists seek our vote, and how we hold politicians accountable.
E-voting
Every election now we hear televised panellists speculate on the introduction of e-voting. Delays in determining clear election winners, and the loss of WA senate ballots in 2013 in particular, usually bring forth a call for e-voting which is seen to be faster and more convenient.
"Rather than focusing on changes to a system derived from a different era, we should be asking what are the implications of emergent technologies on the way in which we are governed."
The technology for e-voting exists, and a number of countries use it. Forms of e-voting have also been trialled in some Australian elections. Overall however, apart from concerns about hacking and security, there remain questions