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Ingram supports Hall in Upper House commentsThe Independent Member for Gippsland East, Craig Ingram, has supported the comments by National Party MP, Peter Hall, in his criticism of the Labor Party preselection process for the new Upper House seats for the next state election on November 25. By Craig Ingram - 21st March 2006 - Back to News "Factional deals struck by the ALP's national executive mean that five of the six Upper House seats Labor is likely to win will go to city-based candidates," Mr Ingram said.
"This is a result of the above-the-line voting system, which promotes the power of political parties over candidates and allows the political party factional warlords too much power over grass roots members and supporters."
Mr Ingram said that voters under the new system have the ability to reclaim the power of the vote in the Upper House by voting below the line.
"If enough individual voters vote below the line this will return the control of the electoral system back to the voters," he said.
"The new system is easer than the senate in that voters who choose to vote below the line are only required to vote for their top five choices.
By voting below the line and only selecting individuals who will put the local concerns above the party politics, grassroots supporters can have a greater influence on who will be their members in the Upper House.
"The Labor Party’s abuse of the preselection process should help independents and minor parties -- like the Nationals -- at the next election.
If a political party puts forward candidates who are not in touch or are all metropolitan based candidates in a rural electorate, those candidates do not deserve voters support," Mr Ingram concluded.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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