Leadership in Political Opposition

Abstract

<p>Despite recent events in Australian federal politics, the function of opposition is not actually to destroy governments. It should be regarded as a normally functioning part of parliamentary democracy, as important as government itself. Democracy is grounded in the belief that since the foundation is the people themselves, no selected, partial government can be good enough to rule in perpetuity. This does indeed imply the need to change governments from time to time, but in orderly fashion, as one government is replaced by a team already groomed for office and experienced, from the desks of 'shadow ministers', in dealing with the problems of the time. As human, therefore fallible, institutions, susceptible to the blandishments of power, governments must be kept under constant scrutiny, and the main function of opposition, besides preparing for office, is to be vigilant over all that government does, in the name of the people.</p>