Why parties can't govern
Edition 1SUN 19 JAN 1997, Page 049 Why parties can't govern By RICHARD FARMER WESTERN Australia provides the latest example of a fundamental problem affecting the way this country is run. We have a parliamentary system predicated on there being two parties, one of which becomes the government and the other the Opposition. But parliaments are elected in a way which regularly gives third forces a balance of power. The result is governments that cannot govern. West Australian Premier Richard Court is in that position. He was returned to office last month after his Liberal-National coalition increased its majority in the Lower House, where the government is decided. It was a clear endorsement. But quite perversely, proportional representation resulted in minor parties and Labor ending up with as many members in the Upper House as the Government. There is an an element of rough justice in this. The Labor governments that preceded Mr Court's were always in the same predicament. I