Electoral system is undemocratic

The Tumbi Creek $1.5 million grant controversy flowed from yet another pre-election pork barrel exercise under the Coalition's $300 million Regional Partnerships Program.

It again demonstrates the major shortcomings of the single-member district electoral system.

It is this very system that encourages pork barrelling, practised by both the major parties when in government.

It is also responsible for costly, unnecessary by-elections such as in Werriwa.

Moreover, this highly undemocratic electoral system ensures that nearly half, sometimes over half of an electorate's voters are not represented by the party of their choice.

The two-party tyranny is the direct result of this electoral system.

Who is going to reform it? The answer is to introduce proportional representation, with multi-member constituencies, used in over 20 European countries, as well as Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa.

Yet, ironically, proportional representation was coinvented in Australia.

Clearly neither major party is interested in it now but voters themselves can break the vicious circle.

They need to start voting for minor parties and independents who will work for this major system reform.

Klaas Woldring, Pearl Beach