The case for primaries.(Politics)

[W]e saw millions of Americans registering to vote for the first time, raising money for the first time, knocking on doors, making calls, talking to their friends and neighbors, mothers and fathers lifting their little girls and their little boys on to their shoulders and whispering, "See, you can be anything you want to be" ... A record thirty-five million people voted in this primary from every state, red, blue, purple, people of every age, faith, color and walk of life. And we have brought so many people into the Democratic Part), and created enthusiasm among those we seek to serve.

--Hillary Clinton, June 3, 2008

There are those who say that this primary has somehow left us weaker and more divided. Well I say that because of this primary, there are millions of Americans who have cast their ballot for the very first time.

--Barack Obama, June 3, 2008

THIS YEAR the USA witnessed one of the most fascinating political contests in modern electoral history--the battle for the 2008 Demo-cratic nomination. If the victorious and defeated Democratic nominees are to be believed, the 2008 primaries have had a transformative effect on participation in that party, attracting new supporters, campaigners, fundraisers and workers to the party. While the presidential primaries have been attracting the world's attention, there have also been a range of other less newsworthy but still important primaries for federal House and Senate seats and for places in the state legislatures.

The purpose of this paper is to advocate the consideration of primaries in Australia for lower house seats in state and federal parliaments. As in the USA, primaries may have a transformative effect on our body politic. They could encourage a wider pool of candidates to stand for selection and the galvanising effect of primaries may bring a new generation of people into the political process.

PEOPLE, POLITICS AND POLITICAL PARTIES