Debate Ignites Over โProposal to Expand Australian Parliament
CANBERRA – A push to increase the size โof โขthe Australian Parliament is sparking debate, with proponents arguing โฃit couldโค benefit smaller parties and independents, while acknowledging potential short-term political costs. โSpecial Minister of State Don Farrell is advocating for an โexpansion, aโ move that would require constitutionalโฃ change and perhapsโค face โคsignificant political hurdles.
The proposal centers on โขincreasingโ the numberโ of senators per state, potentially to 14, a change former Labor national secretary Bob McMullanโ supports. McMullan โคargues this would “make it easier for the Greens, One Nation and Jacqui Lambie โฃto maintain their seats,” though not necessarily guaranteeing increasedโข representation. โขHe further suggests that withโ smaller quotas needed โfor election in aโค larger โฃSenate, independents – like the tealโ candidates – couldโฃ “win several Senate โseats” if they strategically allocate resources.
However, theโ idea โขisn’t without itsโ critics.Electoralโ analyst Ben Raue has challenged the optimistic assessmentโ of an expanded parliament’s impact. โข
Former Attorney-general George brandis believes the potential advantage to Labor could outweigh the initial political โฃbacklash, suggesting any negative reaction would likely subside by the 2028 election if legislation โwere passed in the latter half of next year.
The debate mirrorsโ previous challenges faced by Farrell, such as his reforms toโ electoral donations and spending. Success โhinges on his abilityโฃ to โnavigate politicalโค opposition and secure the Prime Minister’s โฃwillingness to invest โขpolitical โฃcapital in a potentially unpopular โคcause.
This discussion โarrives amid ongoingโข scrutiny of Australia’s parliamentary system and representation, raising questions about the balance of power and the voices heard within the โnation’s government.