Have you got any Idea?

 I believe there is a desperate need to change the way the Australian parliament operates. Most particularly, the role of oppositions, and the crucial role they play in the development and progression of this country. Although I am going to use the Federal Parliament as an exemplar to highlight the issue at hand, the need for reform applies to all tiers of government. 

My point of view might be hard for some to grasp, seeing as I negate the need for oppositions to do what their title suggests: oppose. It has become penchant for oppositions to simply oppose all measures that a government offers. In no way am I weighing into the legitimacy of the 'mandate' debate, but rather believe that the people we elect into opposition, as dichotomous as that sounds, have more of a role to play than simply voting against the government, be it an ideological indifference or otherwise. 

For as long as I can recall, oppositions derived from all sides of the political spectrum have failed to provide alternate options to the ones they oppose. Being only 18 years old, I have only had the capacity to grasp the last 5 years or so. Despite only engaging from the last years of John Howard, and ever since, I can easily say that a trend has emerged. And it is getting worse.

Now, I don't want to be misunderstood here, but I do understand that people reside in different political parties because of their ideological beliefs. And in that, have every reason to not agree or support the policies of a rival party. But what we young Australians want, isn't an opposition who can criticise a government for having a go and offering their policies, but one that too gives forward their alternate solution. 

In the world of the 24 hour news cycle, parties have become obsessed with winning votes, and somehow lost sight of the real task at hand. That task being the development and progression of Australia and its people. That sentence really rolls off the tongue, and to most seems an easy phrase to enact. But our politicians forgot that somewhere along the line. And today was a perfect example..

Today the Australian Labor Party launched it's new way to win back votes - a website to expose Prime Minister Abbott's lies. And in doing so, used their imagination and called it 'Abbott's Lies' - how ingenious I know! By all accounts, the glossy and well developed site is no small feat, and in this internet age is bound to convince some people to change their opinion.

But for all the time, money and effort that has gone in to developing, producing and now advertising this site; couldn't the ALP have developed a series of policy alternatives to what the government is opposing? That's what we not only want, but expect. It is no secret that the Labor Party wants to return to government at the next election - no party ever wants to lose. But it is their hubris in believing that they can wait till the election to offer any ideas. 

We need oppositions to realise this. We need them to create a competition of ideas well before an election campaign begins. The young people of this great country deserve more, and would revel in the opportunity to choose between solutions and moreover, offer our own ideas. If we spent more time solution focused, rather than playing politics - think of how much better of this country would be. 

Have you got any idea?