Sir:

With the dust settling from another Federal election, the time is ripe to consider a Constitutional amendment allowing for longer Parliamentary terms.

The cost of triennial elections is one good reason. The recent election cost taxpayers over $100 million directly. The total cost to the community was perhaps twice that figure.

Another good reason is the disruption and dislocation to the nation’s administration, when a government goes into "caretaker mode" after a general election is called.

But the most powerful reason is that three years is not long enough for a government, of any political complexion, to set and fulfil an agenda of long-term reform. Australia will never have the far-sighted government which it needs, if the nation’s leaders cannot plan more than three years in advance.

Most of the world’s other great democracies elect governments for longer terms - five years in the UK, France, Canada and South Africa, and four years in the United States and most other democracies of Western Europe. After a century of stable democracy, Australia should feel sufficient self-confidence to give our nation’s leaders the opportunity to demonstrate far-sighted statesmanship.

Yours faithfully,
Anthony J.H. Morris QC
George Street
Brisbane