ScoMo Promises to Change, page-62

it comes back to the kind of person the political parties attract as members, and the people the members consider to be the best representative for the electorate (party - y'know). I learned by watching the Howard ministers at first, the games they play to avoid media scrutiny and public knowledge. and recall the comments most often made in laudatory speeches about members, that they were great fund-raisers (first most often) great networkers (pays to have connections) and (lastly) involved in community activities.

no wonder that Abbott was so well qualified hey. but it was Julie Bishops parliamentary farewell that I noticed it most.

retail abilities also gets raised a lot. the ability to sell ice to an esquimo. or to sell your grandmothers spare choppers too if its to raise cash quickly. Lastly influence, acquired over years of lobbying and bargaining, doing trades across the backbench, always pushing ones advantage....

no doubt they've gotta be a bit dodgy to climb the greasy pole.

so why should we expect party politicians to do a dedicated representative job for the good of the electorate and the nation instead of for themselves.