When United States voters, albeit narrowly, preferred self-professed womaniser, reality TV performer and millionaire braggart Donald Trump as president instead of the superior credentials of Hillary Clinton, it was a wake-up call for mainstream political parties.
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Trump’s election stunned political experts who had either not seen the growing disconnect between political parties and the people they were elected to represent, or simply dismissed it.
Voters saw Clinton as more of the same – institutionalised you-scratch-my-back-and-I’ll-scratch-yours party room deals.
They saw Trump not as a Republican but as change.
When Trump is inaugurated as the 45th US President early Saturday our time, he will be the first president elected with neither government or military experience.
Voters are fed up and the time of entitlement is over for all political parties – no matter how comfortably they hold a seat.
There is no surer way for parties to lose respect and relevance than to be seen to be out of touch with those who voted for them.
Politicians must uphold the most honourable of standards, which is more than abiding by the rules and regulations of government.
This is particularly relevant when taxpayers’ money is involved.
Sussan Ley’s travel expenses episode was, rightly or wrongly, seen as another example of political representatives being out of touch with voters.
It is not unheard of for a business owner to schedule a “meeting” during a private trip to claim the travel costs as an expense.
This business practice is not transferable to people paid from the public purse.
For many employees to claim expenses they pay first and lodge a claim, with supporting documentation, for reimbursement later.
If our politicians used this approach the government would not have lost a hard-working minister – or lost credibility with voters.
Those in parliament should not assume tightening entitlement legislation will restore faith in the political system.
Only strong, honest and consistent representation from our members of Parliament will stop voters looking for alternatives.
Our politicians should tune in from early Saturday to remind themselves what happens by not taking voters seriously.