Balance of power

Peter McFarlane has written on Country Comment about a growing interest across Australia in having non-aligned country members hold the balance of power.

“Over recent elections we have seen several independent and minor parties candidates winning in traditionally Liberal leaning country electorates …,” he writes.

Peter mentions there will be a “Balance of Power” forum in Adelaide on Friday, October 2, which I plan to attend.

I’ll be interested to hear how the speakers believe an alliance between independents can be achieved, and what effective difference there is between an alliance and a party.

Somehow, creating an alliance of individuals sounds a bit like herding cats.

I would have thought there is greater strength in numbers and having an agreed common purpose, something like the Nationals used to represent before they sold out to the Liberals.

Here is the media release promoting the forum:

MEDIA RELEASE

Country independents and regional minor parties need to work together to win the “balance of power” for the people living and working in Rural and Regional South Australia at the March 2010 state election.

An open political forum to progress this objective is being jointly convened by Country Independent MPs Rory McEwen and Geoff Brock and SA Nationals’ Karlene Maywald, to be held on Friday 2nd October 2009 in the Gil Langley Room at the iconic Adelaide Oval.

As Independent Member for Mt Gambier, Rory McEwen, explained: “The Balance of Power for the Regions Forum is vital to everyone wanting a better deal for people and their communities in Rural and Regional South Australia.”

The first session of the Balance of Power for the Regions Forum will present three case studies on how country independents and regional minor party MPs are using “balance of power” in various ways to benefit their constituents.

Speakers include Independent SA Senator Nick Xenophon, who will contribute his unique perspective to the discussion, WA Nationals Leader Brendon Grylls – a Cabinet Minister in the WA Liberal Government and SA Nationals Leader Karlene Maywald – a Cabinet Minister in the SA Labor Government.

Member for Chaffey Karlene Maywald added: “As we can see from Western Australia, it’s only when the Regions win the balance of power that they can shape the decisions which affect country people, and get them a fairer share of the resources and services which make for sustainability in country communities.”

Independent Member for Frome, Geoff Brock, is particularly looking forward to the second session of the forum, during which the three speakers and the audience will debate the issues – helped by a panel of expert political commentators including Prof Dean Jaensch and Dr Clement Macintyre from SA, plus Dr. Peter van Onselen, a contributing editor at The Australian from WA.

“The plain fact is – we need more members in our State Parliament who are actually willing and able to stand up for their country constituents,” Geoff Brock said.

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