The Australian Electoral Commission has
just announced some new rules
for candidates in the next federal election.
These include doubling the nomination deposit
for House of Reps candidates
from $1,000 to $2,000. Yes, you have to
pay to play in our democracy
and the buy-in just doubled.
How will the major parties now afford
to run in every electorate?
Well, if a candidate wins 4% of the primary vote -
that's the number one vote -
they get their deposit back, 
plus $2.76 for each primary vote.
If you get less than 4% of the primary vote,
you lose your deposit. You get nothing.
Now, this change to double the nomination
deposit was not recommended
by the committee that reviews electoral
matters, so why did our parliament do it?
They say it was to make the deposit amount
the same as for Senate candidates
which is currently $2,000.
I realise that the laws of mathematics
don't really apply around here
but if the aim was to equalise the deposit between
Senate and House of Reps candidates
that could have been achieved by lowering the
deposit for the Senate to $1,000. Or zero dollars.
Nomination deposits already doubled in 2013.
If the aim was to reduce costs
for the electoral commission, then we could
have easily reduced the payout per vote.
No, this is a deliberate roadblock to new players.
It is pure contempt towards the voters
from MPs who are unhappy
about losing their grip on power.
The share of primary votes for small parties
and independents in the House of Reps
in the last few elections has grown
from 6% to 13%.
Why would the major parties do better, to win back those votes,
when they can just freeze out the new players?
So now, we rely more than ever on your donations, however small,
so that we can contest elections and
give voters an alternative.
Your primary vote, as well, means
so much to the smaller parties.
So put a number "1" in the box next to the Science Party
(or another small party if you prefer)
before preferencing the majors.
Not just because we need your support,
but because now we know what
the major parties are prepared to do to throttle
democracy to serve their own self-interest.
