When it comes to voting, Australians are increasingly inclined to say, "None of the above"

It's time to fix the system, yes it's time

The Tasmanian election is the latest example of how we are building ourselves a democratic parachute as we jump out of the plane, reinventing our political system as the wind rushes past our ears, trying to ensure ourselves a safe landing. To put it another way, in election after election, Australians are easing themselves away from a two-party system, trying to create a third force in their parliaments by way of the crossbenches.

The parachute analogy is meant to suggest the level of difficulty involved in this process, and we shouldn’t shy away from acknowledging the predicament that faces us.

In moving towards a three-body solution—a crossbench with the balance of power—there is a structural issue. The multi-party solution Australians are groping for does not fit in the Westminster box we have been provided, and it is going to require institutional change. We are going to have to rebuild the box.

The fact is, two-party logic is baked into how we do politics, and it is present in every…