Having read and been reinspired by your book, I want to make some considered comment in due course. (I retired from active politics just a few years age to recuperate after more than 20 years battling; so I find much with which to agree in your book.) For now I'd like to offer an idea I have had for some time about a small change which would have a big result and contribute toward restoring some of the behaviours we used to witness.

But first, your book makes strong reference to the value of the Senate as it is currently constituted, ie not controlled by either Liberal or Labor. It wasn't always so and I think significant credit should be given to the Australian Democrats for continuing to still be there despite the odds and the opposition from all sides and much of the media. It is the Democrats persistent existence which has finally ensured that so many people now recognise that only a Senate not dominated by the major parties stands against a total takeover of unfettered Government dominance and the complete subservience of parliament.

But there is a simple reform just begging to be introduced. The Senate would be further transformed were there to be a ban on Senators becoming Ministers. At present most of the Senators either are or want to be Ministers. Thus their outcome is largely more party politics. Even non major party Senators get sucked into the party political game.

What a waste because most people do know than in Committees and reviews of existing and proposed legislation a lot of very good work is being done Even Tony Abbott has praised the Medicare reforms which came as a result of the Senate refusing to cave in to earlier Government bullying.

As well, a transformed Senate should have the power to call Ministers to a British style question time; questions on set portfolios at set dates for set periods. Ministers (from the House of Representatives) would also need to be able to introduce their legislation and appear to answer questions on it.

Such changes would not require Constitutional change but could make an enormous difference to operation of the Senate and hence the parliament. If the House of Representatives is to be the Governing House, where Governments are made and (unlikely any more) unmade, then Ministers should have no place in the Senate.