Hi everyone,

Following some recent issues that have come up with the Senate, myself and u/model-trask have some suggestions on how to fix it as it has become apparent that there are some concerns with how incumbents can’t keep their current state/territory due to the first come first serve system.

Proposal 1: Incumbents keep their seats

Pretty self explanatory, if you are an incumbent and are reelected, you have first dibs on your current state/territory. There are some concerns with this system, such as you permanently own the seat until you are defeated/retire. Obviously this is not exactly a fair system, given this doesn’t take place in the House, so why should it in the Senate?

Proposal 2: Senate Electorates, the first

If not obvious by the name of the proposal, we have two separate systems for how Senate Electorates would work. The first is that we have a national vote (where the quota for number of seats would be derived), but then states/territories are allocated to parties, based on whoever led in there. Making it clear it is allocated to the party, not whoever was elected first on the ticket. If a party leads in multiple states/territories, they will be allocated based on whatever seats they had the highest primary vote in.

Proposal 3: Senate Electorates, the second

This proposal would have people run in individual states, as opposed to a national vote. With this; we would redistribute the house, as otherwise 19 unique candidates are required, which is not possible. The house would likely redistribute to 13 seats, with the senate dropped back to 7 seats, likely with NSW and ACT being merged into one Senate Seat.

We are opening this to a community discussion, where you can provide opinions on these proposals or provide new proposals for how to help the Senate. It will then go to a community vote before anything is implemented.

Thanks all,

Anacornda
Electoral Moderator

model-trask
Parliament Moderator