To Save Victoria, We Need a Minority Government

If no major party is expected to secure a majority, we can expect a divided election result, but in that division is a hopeful opportunity. The opportunity for a minority government that includes at least a few principled Independents willing to bridge divides and bring adult supervision back to Victoria’s Parliament.

None of the established party leaders can deliver the changes we deserve. Whatever they promise, the major parties are incapable of delivering genuine reform out of a sense of public good. The nature of party politics won’t allow it. Instead, they must be compelled to reform by the voices of their electorates, backed by a few principled independents ready to hold ministers to account and reject political theatre. When minority governments force the Major Parties to share power with Independents, the public wins.

If you think it can’t happen, look to the previous minority government in Victoria in 1999 when three independents held the balance of power and brokered an Independents’ Charter of Good Governance that held that government together and led to improved anti-corruption oversight, responsible investment in neglected services, parliamentary reforms, and a durable, more open government. This type of crossbench oversight holds the government more accountable.

Certainly, the major parties will warn us about the risks of a hung parliament. But when they do, remind them the sky did not fall in 1999. Thanks to that minority government, Victorians now enjoy fixed-term elections. That means, a minority parliament, anchored by principled independents, doesn't threaten stable governance. It can actually reinforce it. The risks are worn by the individual Members of Parliament who must find ways to cooperate or suffer the judgment of their electorates. And, for the first time in a long time, negotiations would require collaboration, leading to more balanced and beneficial policy for all of us.

If you are still not convinced, consider the rise in political extremism, carried by a troubling number of voters who feel so abandoned they are tempted to gamble on radical fringes to shake things up. The risks to our way of life and our children’s future are too high to be left to desperate measures.

Thankfully, there is a path of lower risk and greater reward. But to walk it, we must find the courage to reconsider our traditional loyalties, because the party bosses, grandstanding shadow ministers, and radicals contesting this election are incapable of building a future in which we can all live and thrive.

The possibility of another productive minority government isn't complicated, but it does depend on voters across Victoria to be intentional at the ballot box. When you’re informed and intentional, your vote helps shape the future you want to see for yourself, your family, and your community.

For example, one way to voice your demand for change is to write the number 1 in the ballot box for a moderate, Independent candidate for the Legislative Assembly. Just remember to number all remaining boxes on your ballot paper, in the order you prefer, to make your vote count.

By disrupting the traditional two-major party contest for majority control, we give local voices, moderate leadership, and perhaps even minority government a fighting chance to save us.

Greg Rublee