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During the 100 years from 1856, Victoria had 40 parliamentary elections, 61 changes of government, and a new premier every 21 months on average. Then the Liberal Party held government for 27 years (1955–82), with Henry Bolte as premier for 17 of them. Such a thing would have been unimaginable in the 19th century, when governments were formed not by parties but by loose coalitions or factions. Members of a faction might share a single policy in common and join together to support it in parliament. With enough supporters in the lower house, it could form government. Then, once the burning issue was resolved, the faction might break up and the government collapse. Until the 20th century Victoria’s government commonly changed hands between elections. Only with the emergence of political parties – with united memberships and agreed policy platforms – did governments become more stable. In the pre-party era, politicians were judged mainly on what they could do for their electorate. In parliament, they voted according to local concerns rather than on party lines, forging a close link between voters and the parliament – a very direct democracy. Illustrations |
