The " Voiceless " Voters !

Australia is one of the few world countries that insists that every citizen above eighteen years of age presents and casts a vote at Federal, State and Council elections.    It is a requirement that you register your name on the electoral roll - and if you fail to vote you may have to pay a fine.

Australia justifies this as a form of " Democracy ".   When all the people vote to select the form of government that will apply, then the people get the government they deserve.    The people who gain the reins of power are those selected by the majority of voters.

Strangely, a very different scenario applies in Australia's biggest city.  Sydney has 20,000 firms registering a business address - and they provide seventy percent of the rate income - but only just 1700 are on the roll and registered to vote in council elections.

It seems a reverse form of  " Democracy " applies when it comes to those who own or operate a " business ".    Being assessed to pay a far higher council rate than those who merely " live " in the city, business people are not required to automatically have their name on the voting roll.    In fact, they have to fight to gain that priviledge !

All sort of obstacles stand in the way.   Some business owners own their premises outright and probably live in a suburb that has an entirely different council.   Others rent the premises in which their business operates, and some both live and work in the same building.

All sorts of issues are decided by council that directly affect the ability of a business to make a profit, and that includes the rules that will apply to parking and street management.   The entire " management " of the inner city is in the hands of the council and it seems that the very people whose livelihood depends on those decisions are " voiceless " !

Change is in the air.   There is pressure to have the local government laws rewritten to make it easier for business owners and operators to get on the electoral roll - and cast their votes.

The people who provide seventy percent of council income have been virtually ignored for many decades.   Getting them on the voting roll will provide a blast of fresh air through the musty corridors of power at city hall !