there is a very real reason why the Parties want to keep control of voting and hence parliament. voters are often blind to individual candidates values and worth. we've been trained to think along the lines of partisan politics so that votes are mostly allocated to the Party than the candidates. it a means of channeling funding too using a large pool of donations to fund party fund-raisers. and by crikey don't they love party fund-raisers.
"More people are discovering independants, and more independanst are discovering their voices. Making a seat marginal is the best outcome for all constituents, as now the parties have to work REALLY hard."... cheers for this insightful observation. I'm hoping the Teals target Lab seats next election. I'm disappointed they haven't found candidates for the by-elections that have been held since Labs took office.
