I came across this post at Doohan It This Way in which Andrew make reference to an article by Phillip Blond which makes excellent reading. I would invite you follow the links.
This was my comment to him:
After reading the article, I’m left with the feeling that the ideal that Burns is suggesting however admirable, I’m just not sure that it’s achievable! My gut tells me we’re likely for a lot more of the same old, same old. Australians (and Americans, for that matter) are very reluctant to go outside the two party system. And with that in mind, look who you’ve got to choose from…..the “Bird from Barry” or “Billy Big-Ears!” Australian politics will be down in the gutter for some time to come. We also really need to lose the preferential voting system. Only in Australia is it possible that the vote you gave to candidate X will actually go to candidate Y. Political bankruptcy? I see it more as political “amorality!”
Words, By George! 