Fixed terms - and elections !

Holding an election costs a lot of money - and hence it should be avoided if held too often.

Back in 1995 it was decided that the election of state governments in New South Wales would be held after each four year fixed term. The idea was to avoid cynical premiers rushing early to the polls when circumstances favoured their re-election.

Now there are moves to repeal this fixed term arrangement in favour of the right of the voters to call an early election and judge the competence of the government by putting it to the vote. A petition is under way for a referendum on this subject.

This is obviously a product of general dissatisfaction with the appalling performance of the present state government and the fact that we have to put up with them for over a year before they can be legally turfed out of office.

Unfortunately introducing a " voter recall " would introduce a new factor into the political equation. From time to time every form of government has to make an unpopular move in the general interest and once such a recall clause was in place it would be too easy for agitators to demand that the voters have a say on the measure.

Woe betide the state that can only make popular decisions !

Those thinking of signing a petition calling for such a referendum should think long and hard about what sort of governing regime would evolve from a system where an unpopular decision could lead to a snap election.

We might be better off gritting our teeth and putting up with the present incompetents in the sure knowledge that judgement day will arrive in due course - and the fact that they are in office is the result of a previous poor decision on our part !