Multi-party parliament needed

Mr Don Parkes claims that I advocate a one party republic (Peninsula News, 5 Mar 2012) and it is a mystery how he comes to that conclusion.

The contrary is true.

We should change the electoral regime in this country to a proportional system (open party list, not Hare-Clark) which actually tends to produce multi-party parliaments.

This is used in 21 out of 28 European countries, South Africa and New Zealand, and would remove the pointless antagonism of the two-party farce.

There would be much more diversity in parliament and the political culture would develop into one that seeks common ground and cooperation.

Replacing the Queen with an Australian Head of State should be just step one towards a wide-ranging review of political and constitutional practices.

That is the meaning of maximalism.

The United States decided on that direction in 1776 and they embarked on their republic.

There are of many other types of republics.

Ireland is another interesting example, one with proportional representation.

The Gillard Government could organise a multi-question plebiscite soon to find out what the people's preferences are.

It's called democracy.

We should insist on it really.

The Windsors would even support that.

Email, 6 Mar 2012 Klaas Woldring, Pearl Beach