Preferential Voting

The below are extracts from a release by the Family First Party.

Your vote can count twice – Use the optional preferential voting (OPV) system. 

Giving your first preference to Family First or an independent candidate is NOT a WASTED VOTE. Using the unique OPV system, your preferential vote will work to – 

1. Break the stranglehold major parties have on government in Queensland;

2. Ensure balanced and rigorous debate from a variety of opinions and positions in parliament; and 

3. Encourage accountability and greater transparency in government. 

A VERY SIMPLE PRINCIPLE –

• Vote one for Family First or an independent candidate of your choice 

•  Vote two for the major party (or other candidate) as your second preference 

•  Number the remaining boxes in your order of preference 

Election funding is allocated to candidates or political groups based upon the number of formal First Preference votes they receive during an election. The major parties have a large donation base from which they can conduct business, often without the influence of grass roots supporters. Increasingly, this means that government is becoming distant from the people. Therefore, if you wish to send a powerful message to the major parties and also make your vote count for more in the upcoming state election – take advantage of Queensland’s OPV system.

By voting for Family First or an independent candidate as your first preference and then giving your second preference to a major party - you will (in most cases) ensure that the major party still receives your vote, while the funding is directed away from that major party to your first preference candidate. The loss of First Preference votes sends a clear message to the major parties which they cannot 

ignore.

Family First is committed to ensuring that government in Queensland is conducted with the needs of all Queenslanders and their families as the Number 1 priority. To achieve this, Family First is encouraging all voters in Queensland to TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PREFERENTIAL VOTING SYSTEM by ensuring that people understand the power of their preferential vote. 

For more information read the Optional Preferential Voting System fact sheet at www.ecq.qld.gov.au

MP and Government Offices

I believe the government should always be setting the best example for the general public. An environmentally friendly office (MP offices and Government department offices) is one area the Government can set such an example.

Each office should be obligated to ensure the following:

•           Provide 'best practice' training to all staff on state government payroll
•           100% GreenPower accredited renewable energy
•           100% recycled paper and stationary (example)
•           “ClimateSmartHome Service” completed

There are many other ways to improve an office to become more environmentally friendly. I would implement the above in my MP office (if elected), and fight that all state offices would follow the above.

Fixed Electoral Terms

As most of us know the state election is coming up soon, and once again the party in power are playing games with the general public as to when this will be held. (Read related story here) 


As can be seen from the list shown on this blog, three items of action I have set for myself are around governmental and electoral reforms. For the public to trust the government in important decision making, they first need to have their own house in order. 


People need to trust the government and that they are making the correct decisions for the state. This trust can't be made or maintained without an upper house being returned, as there is currently no review of the laws being created and passed in the lower house. The ruling party has supreme power. 


People also will not trust a government that uses laws for their own advantage and political gain. Two examples that come to mind straight away are: Government advertising and timing of elections.


I feel the public are more than happy to have fixed term electoral cycles, be it three, three and half or four years, and this is something I support.

Asset Sales

I would like to state that I will not support any sale of government owned assets. (Brisbane Times story: Asset sales touted to cut tax) I wish to make two points. 

1. Governments should provide essential services and run them as a not-for-profit business.
   If they were ran this way, the community would be provided the service at the lowest possible cost, thus allowing us to enjoy a lower cost of living.
   Example: Power and Water. If these assets were to be sold, the company buying them would have to run at a profit, and that profit would be at the expense of the user (nearly everyone). The same would apply if the government ran them at a profit. The user would suffer.
2. Government owned assets that aren't an essential service should be kept and run to make a profit.
   This profit in turn would allow the government to use that money to provide other services (or tax breaks etc...) to the community. 

Public Transport

I can't believe we have been hit with another 15% increase to public transport fares, and will be again next year. According to the press, use of public transport is on the decrease, and I can only think of one reason why. PRICE. If the government wants more people to use public transport, in order to get more cars off the road, and aim for a clear environment, they need to be decreasing the fares, not increasing them. 

Labor may think they are creating the worlds best public transport system, but it's a shame that no-one will be using it, because we can't afford it. Families and individuals can't afford the old fares, yet alone the new increases. 

Decrease the fares, customers will return.

Increase the fares, customers will continue to leave.

It's that simple.