When Political Theatre Replaces True Accountability In Our Parliament

The symptom of a struggling democracy

In my time as a medical practitioner, I learned that ignoring a patient's symptoms rarely makes the disease go away. If a patient presents with a fever, you do not simply paint over the thermometer. Yet, in our Legislative Council, this is exactly how the government handles difficult questions. Day after day, we watch as standing orders are stretched and pulled to avoid providing direct answers to direct questions. It is a form of political avoidance that would be comical if the consequences for our state were not so serious.

This is not merely an issue of bruised egos or political sniping. When a government treats the questioning process as an inconvenience rather than a duty, public trust begins to erode. We are witnessing a slow degradation of our democratic standards. It leaves voters feeling unheard and disconnected, trapped in a system that prioritise spin over substantive policy reform.

The high cost of empty words

Think of the last time you felt ignored by those in power. That sinking feeling of frustration is what thousands of Western Australians experience when they see their representatives dodging basic accountability. This is the danger: a democracy that has lost its pulse. It is a waiting room where patients—the citizens—are left in the dark while the officials focus on optics rather than medicine.

If you enjoy hearing the truth behind the headlines, I invite you to subscribe to my YouTube channel for regular updates on how we are fighting for change. I believe in a science-first, evidence-based approach to governance, and that starts with honesty.

Seeking a genuine cure

I have given notice of a motion to address this decline. We must ask ourselves if the current format of Question Time has become an exercise in meaningless theatrical performances. I am proposing that we look at abolishing questions without notice entirely. By reallocating that time to actual legislative work and committee business, we could replace performance with production. We need to move away from the games and towards work that benefits the people of this state.

We can see the full details of this proposal in the official record of proceedings. The status quo is not working, and we deserve a Parliament that operates with the transparency and integrity of a professional institution. If you believe it is finally time to fix our broken system, please join Legalise Cannabis WA and help us build a more accountable future.