For many years, I have defied the law here in Australia and refused to participate in the "sham" elections.

The political process here has been corrupted, even hi-jacked by foreign influences.

Some people in Britain say compulsory voting should be introduced in the UK.

I can tell you from experience, things would be no better.

In the recent federal election, extremist groups such as "Family First" were elected to Parliament with a tiny percentage of the vote thanks to the preferential voting system used in Australia. It's farcical.

Despite the huge decline here in church attendances, this group still has a ridiculous amount of power.

With the General Election, Brits are in much the same position. The reality is the difference between the major parties (as in the US) is "the width of a piece of paper".

One can only hope for an emerging third force to improve the lot of ordinary people who are disengaged from today's decision making.

Ken Clarke (JP)

-Macleay Street, Sydney