Australian democracy is built on the fundamental principle that every vote counts. However, former Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon has proposed that Labor and the Coalition collaborate to exclude minor parties and independents in the event of a hung parliament, effectively sidelining the choices of voters who elected them. Minor parties and independents exist because Australians are increasingly disillusioned with the two-party system. In the 2022 federal election, one in three voters supported a minor party or independent, signaling a desire for change. If neither Labor nor the Coalition can secure a majority, it reflects the electorate’s demand for negotiation and collaboration,...