It might have been just because it was the easiest way to explain it, but in year five Civics and Citizenship we were taught that the Senate was the ‘House of Review.’ As the battle between Rudd and Howard rages, the half-Senate election seems to have fallen by the wayside as minor parties desperately claw for every column inch and television sound bite they can get. 

Democrats Senator Bartlett says he expected more coverage of the Senate this campaign given that the 2004 election delivered a Senate majority to the Coalition, which enabled them to shorten parliamentary debate and push forward controversial legislation like WorkChoices. However, he says, the media has preferred the ‘presidential style (campaign) of Howard verses Rudd.’  

‘That’s where everybody’s at, its easier, its simpler, it has more colour and movement and more excitement. The Senate [campaign] is more complex and multifaceted, when you’re talking about it you’re talking about issues to demonstrate why the Senate is important whether it be WorkChoices, electoral law, land rights or just accountability. It’s about issues not gossip,’ he says. 

Senator Bartlett says it is a challenge to make voters aware that the Senate is a separate entity with a specific purpose as a House of Review.

According to Professor John Warhurst from the Australian National University, the majority of voters don’t differentiate between the two houses. “Some voters, about 10 per cent, do switch votes in the Senate, so they are aware of its importance but the majority do not.” 

Trying to counter this the Greens, who are widely tipped to pick up seats in the Senate, have run ads  ‘Johnny is gone, but who will keep Kevin honest?’ Their website boldly declares ‘A Change of Government won’t be enough Vote 1 Greens in the Senate.’ With the Democrats expected to be extinct after Saturday the Greens are also setting themselves up as the new third party in Australian politics, urging Australians to ‘take out third party insurance.’ 

Another tactic for the minor parties, says Professor Warhurst is to run candidates for the Lower House even though they have no chance of winning the seat. Firstly because it can give them a presence at every ballot box in every electorate as well as being able to sway a seat through preferences in return for major party preferences in the Senate.

“Minor parties generally have to also stand in the Lower House too. This gives them something to bargain their preferences with in dealings with the major parties and helps in giving out how-to-vote cards.”

Scott Richardson is a freelance writer from Sydney.

Photo: Brian Yap