Northern Victoria must be heard
The Northern Victoria Region is vast and it’s diverse. At about 45% of the state, it accounts for a serious share of the state’s (and the nation’s) agriculture, horticulture, meat and dairy, freight operations, energy ...
It deserves a strong, independent, impactful voice among its five representatives in the state’s Legislative Council to shake things up and bring real concerns to the fore. Your concerns.
OK, so it’s fine if you’re a bit hazy on the difference between the two houses of our State Parliament. Stay with me and I’ll explain more.
Just remember that when you vote on 28 November, you’ll be voting not just for your ‘local member’ in the Legislative Assembly (lower house), but for our five Northern Victoria Members of the Legislative Council (upper house, our MLCs. That’s the big ballot paper!)
If - like most people I talk to - you don’t even know who our five current MLCs are, well … there’s your clue!! How can they be representing your concerns if you don’t even know their names? And what are they so busy doing, if not talking with you?
An independent MLC’s only obligation is to you. And as you’ve seen, I have a plan to listen and to problem-solve together.
Ummm... just what is the Legislative Council, again?
(and why do I care?)
OK, so I’m inordinately passionate about the unappreciated potential for Independents in the upper house – the Legislative Council (LC). I know that sounds really nerdy, but hear me out. The record clearly shows that single ‘crossbench’ votes in the LC can determine not only whether legislation passes at all, but what that legislation ultimately says. This makes your Independent representative in the upper house potentially VERY influential.
Here’s a lightning-speed reminder of what you learned at school (maybe?):
Victoria has 88 districts (also called ‘seats’ or ‘electorates’) in its lower house, the Legislative Assembly. The party or coalition with a majority in the Legislative Assembly forms the Government.
For the upper house - the Legislative Council - the 88 seats are allocated to eight regions (11 seats each. Still with me?)
Each region (e.g. Northern Victoria*) elects five Members to the Legislative Council (MLCs), making a total of 40.
It’s typically the case that the Government does NOT have a majority in the Legislative Council - which means there can be fierce and meaningful debate and negotiation here before a bill can pass.
In overall terms, the role of the LC includes scrutinising legislation that has passed the LA, questioning Ministers and senior public servants, requiring documents to be produced, and conducting in-depth enquiries through its committees. Essentially, upper houses are considered critical in the checks and balances of a well-functioning parliament.
So ... who you vote for in the Legislative Council does not affect who forms the Government, but it significantly affects which views are reflected in the final form of any legislation. Get the significance? This is where we want the Northern Victoria voice to be loud! This is where your vote really counts for our region.