Dr Bruce Manners
Senior minister
Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church

In a remarkable performance on 60 Minutes this past Sunday, Mark Latham, former leader of the Australian Labor Party and wannabe Prime Minister, announced he’s going to the polling booth to put in an empty voting form.

His message (in case you missed it): “When it comes to good ideas for Australia’s future, Gillard and Abbott have given voters a blank piece of paper, so let’s give them a blank piece of paper in return.”

He’s inviting us to do the same to send a message to our politicians.

That’s a bit rich coming from someone who, a few years ago, was out and about seeking votes for himself and his party. Does he think politics has gone downhill so much since his party rejected him as leader? Is this personal? Or after his recent run in with Julia Gillard, is he merely planning a career as a walking headline?

More important, though, is this question: What would happen to democracy if no one participated? Do we search for a benevolent dictator—and what guarantees do we have they would stay benevolent?

We have this messy, inefficient system called democracy where our politicians are accountable every few years to the people. It’s complicated by the fact that there are parties involved, which means our representatives, at times, have divided loyalties between their constituencies and their party. That adds to the messiness.

What this messy, inefficient system has done, however, is build a stable nation that allows for divergent views—like Latham’s. That must never be discounted.

It’s easy to be the critic. It’s certainly easier than trying to find solutions. And, it must be admitted, it isn’t always easy making a choice at the polling booth.

However, there’s something healthy about a nation that encourages everyone to vote (that’s the law), and allows anyone to stand. The range of parties and individuals attempting to represent New South Wales in the senate is a fascinating insight into Australian life.

You’ll find on the ballot paper groups such as the climate sceptics, communist, secular, sex, and shooters and fishers parties. Mostly they’re special interest groups that will secure much less than one per cent of the vote. Then there’s a long list of independents, unknown to most of us, who have put their names down.

So while, realistically speaking, none of these parties or individuals has a chance of being voted in, the fact they’re there says something positive about our nation. And they’re “having a go.”

It’s a cop out to go to the polling booth and do nothing. Here’s a chance to make a statement that is meaningful—by voting. Leaving the paper empty means you’re asking someone else to make the decision for you. That’s when you become a bystander, and God hasn’t given us life to live it as a bystander.

So, sorry Mr Latham, while I’m still waiting to be impressed that any party can actually lead Australia strongly into the future, I’ll be making my mark on the voting form. It’s both a responsibility and an opportunity.

Tags: Bruce Manners

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at 9.50 PM and is filed under Commentary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.