SHOULD POLITICIANS HAVE "P" PLATES ?

Anyone who’s ever run a successful business knows from the outset that it’s not going to be easy and the only way to learn is to get hands on experience. When you consider that doctors and other professionals spend years in training before they are allowed to treat or deal with the public…it seems pertinent to ask the question…why do we allow politicians to enter parliament with little or no experience and expect them to have the knowledge and expertise to improve the state and welfare of our nation? It seems crazy to me that a country should be governed by anyone who has had no previous experience. Why do we as the electorate don’t demand that politicians should have at least some experience in business or other fields before considering them for the job?

 According to the Australian Financial Review only 33 of our members of Parliament have  any entrepreneurial experience and just a handful have ever been on a Board of any kind. When you consider that we’re paying our hard earned money in taxes to a bunch of unqualified and inexperienced people to run our country shouldn’t we be more discerning about whom we elect?  What are your views? 

6 comments

I agree Fleur. I think every politician should have a degree (preferably political science co-joined with economics or business) and at least 10 years working experience before qualifying for preselection.

I think too that all applicants should be subjected to a psychometric test to weed out those with narcissistic disordered and psychopathic personalities.

It does seem some Politicians have little empathy for people living at the lower income scale, but yet when cut backs are required it always seems the Basic wage folk and people on pensions, are the first to be asked "to tighten their belts".

Perhaps a University course or something along  those lines where anyone ascribing to take Politics seriously, and really want it as their career should be given Business and Social education with a Degree as the end result, and certainly no less for The Prime Minister.

Thank you Robi and Phyl for your comments. It's amazing how under qualified the majority of our politicians are...however I blame the public for their apathy..if people take more of an interest in politics and demand the best...they will get it!

Fleur, I feel it’s not  only important for members of Parliament to have business experience, but the qualifications to go with it and that goes especially for the Prime Minister (as Phyl points out). We can see this lack of experience manifest itself with the blunders made by Abbott. Compared to someone like Malcolm Turnbull, Abbott is still a learner driver! I’ve copied a list of Malcolm Turnbull’s qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament from the internet:

BA, LLB (Syd), BCL(Hons) (Oxon).

Rhodes Scholar (NSW 1978).Journalist 1975-79.

Barrister and solicitor 1980-83 and 1986-88.

Grazier 1982-2004.

General Counsel and Secretary, Consolidated Press Holdings Group 1983-85.

Managing Director, Turnbull and Partners Ltd 1987-97.

Chairman, OzEmail Ltd 1994-99.

Director, FTR Holdings Ltd 1995-2004.

Chairman and Managing Director, Goldman Sachs Australia 1997-2001.

Partner, Goldman Sachs and Co 1998-2001.

 

Another important attribute is being able to resonate with the Australian population and to have the likeability factor, something that Abbott does not possess. Malcolm Turnbull has been described as “the most liberal member of the Liberal Party.

Fleur, you know I don’t get too involved with politics but I think you have a very good point when you say that politicians should have the necessary qualifications and also “work experience” like everybody else. I would go even further and say that they should have tests to determine their mental health and I agree with Robiconda on that.

I was shocked when I saw the film of that independent candidate pouring water over his young child and hitting the other one over the head. Who knows what goes on behind closed doors in some politicians’ homes? Imagine having someone like him in parliament.

Micha and Mari... thanks also for your comments. Micha we've talked about this and I agree with you wholeheartedly. Some of the people we vote for one might not want at their bar b que let alone at the dinner table!

Mari..agree 100% about mental health being important for politicians. If tests were done before both Rudd and Abbott entered politics....I doubt whether they would have made the grade!

Probably applies to a lot of the "Career" MPs Fleur. All need to have had a work record outside of politics as being able to be shown relate to all people of Australia rather than a select few should be paramount as a criteria for being selected IMO that is why Malcolm Turnbull would have been a better choice than Tony Abbott.

Absolutely great idea - then we will be able to dissmiss all the Public Servants and Advisors TIC

6 comments



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