On our election

If you don't want to be bombarded with election material, it's best not to ever write to your local member. At least that's the lesson I seem to be getting as our local member, Kerry Bartlett, fights for his political life in what is now very much a marginal seat.

Since my response letter to his welcoming me to the electorate ten years ago was overwhelmingly critical of Liberal Party policy, I don't know what he hopes to achieve by sending me enough paper to warrant a pulp mill. I think he's a pretty decent guy but I've hated his government for a long time and nothing would convince me to vote for anyone associated with the current Ministers.

I took the Get Up poll that tells you, based on your responses, which candidate most fits with your preferences and - no surprises - the Green candidate came up trumps, followed by Labor. It was reassuring to know that I was pledging my allegiance to a party that really reflected my core values.

For the rest of you lot: vote Green in the Senate. Or anyone other than the major parties; just grab a brain. the Upper House is supposed to be a house of review. Ensure that it is.

I confess that I've had a history of being a 'swinging voter' but that swinging has been between third parties like the Greens and the old ADs and exercising my anarchistic conscience and not voting for any of them.