Broaden the options

Let's hope the Prime Minister can find a new senator who can turn the party upside down.

Section 15 of the Constitution (casual vacancies) limits her chances first off in that this person has to be a member of the ALP and hail from NSW.

In general, the Westminster system already severely restricts the potential for recruiting quality politicians.

Ministers have to be in and of the Parliament meaning they must be elected.

Others cannot be drafted, most unintelligent.

The national membership of the ALP is down to 32.000 or 0.16 per cent of the population, not a wide choice either.

Such severe restrictions suggest that it is sheer luck if any government has adequate competence in its ranks.

Of course, there are those who say it doesn't matter that the Ministers are functional amateurs.

The senior public servants are there to provide professional and impartial expertise.

Really?

That may have been the case in the past but the public services have been politicised, many senior public servants are on contracts thus lacking tenure and many are very highly paid.

Not surprisingly the people are disenchanted with parliamentary politics.

Can Australians start considering alternatives, other than the American Presidential system?

Email, 1 Mar 2012 Klaas Woldring, Pearl Beach