Seniors' political party
08, Apr, 2010 (2:58 PM)
This blog is closed. Thank you to those who contributed.
Poll results:
Yes - 41%
No - 37%
Depends on the policies - 22%
Topic: Is it time for a seniors’ political party?
After The Australian ran a piece on Monday 29 March about the importance of the over-50s vote in this year’s federal election, several people called to raise the idea of a seniors political party.
With older Australians making up 41 per cent of the voting population, a seniors party would have six million potential supporters.
The proportional representation system used for electing the Senate would also help such a party. You only need 14 per cent of the vote in any state to secure a Senate seat, with preference deals that can be a lot less. The Greens secured South Australian and Western Australian Senate seats with less than 10 per cent of the vote. A good preference deal and just a quarter of the over 50s vote could secure a seniors party seats in the Senate.
In Australia the Grey Power Party contested state and federal elections over a decade ago and never won a seat. But overseas seniors parties have achieved electoral success—the Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party held a seat in the Scottish Parliament between 2003 and 2008.
There may be potential for a seniors party to gain support and even some electoral success but is it the best way to give older Australians a political voice?
National Seniors is not a seniors party and is not aligned to any political party. Its membership of a quarter of a million includes supporters of all the major political parties and none. Its size and independence has made it a powerful voice for seniors, one that is listened to by State and Federal governments and delivers results for older Australians. Read policy outcomes.
If National Seniors were to become a seniors party or come out in support of a political party, many members may leave. This could weaken its ability to speak on behalf of all seniors and its political impact.
So the question is would a seniors party be a more effective voice for seniors, and would you support one?
Seniors' political party
08, Apr, 2010 (2:58 PM)
This blog is closed. Thank you to those who contributed.
Poll results:
Yes - 41%
No - 37%
Depends on the policies - 22%
Topic: Is it time for a seniors’ political party?
After The Australian ran a piece on Monday 29 March about the importance of the over-50s vote in this year’s federal election, several people called to raise the idea of a seniors political party.
With older Australians making up 41 per cent of the voting population, a seniors party would have six million potential supporters.
The proportional representation system used for electing the Senate would also help such a party. You only need 14 per cent of the vote in any state to secure a Senate seat, with preference deals that can be a lot less. The Greens secured South Australian and Western Australian Senate seats with less than 10 per cent of the vote. A good preference deal and just a quarter of the over 50s vote could secure a seniors party seats in the Senate.
In Australia the Grey Power Party contested state and federal elections over a decade ago and never won a seat. But overseas seniors parties have achieved electoral success—the Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party held a seat in the Scottish Parliament between 2003 and 2008.
There may be potential for a seniors party to gain support and even some electoral success but is it the best way to give older Australians a political voice?
National Seniors is not a seniors party and is not aligned to any political party. Its membership of a quarter of a million includes supporters of all the major political parties and none. Its size and independence has made it a powerful voice for seniors, one that is listened to by State and Federal governments and delivers results for older Australians. Read policy outcomes.
If National Seniors were to become a seniors party or come out in support of a political party, many members may leave. This could weaken its ability to speak on behalf of all seniors and its political impact.
So the question is would a seniors party be a more effective voice for seniors, and would you support one?