[nailer]

Good point. Such a pity the conservatives elect their own leader with preferential voting but campaigned against the public doing the same.

[blueskin_]

Because it was designed to give undue influence to fringe parties. Real electoral reform would be proportional representation.

[nailer]

Do you have a reference for that? Is Australia trying to give undue influence to fringe parties? Are the conservatives trying to promote fringe candidates?

[blueskin_]

In a leadership election, it's in their interest to have a clear winner with a large majority. In a general election, it's in nobody's interest and indeed, counter to the national interest to have a huge majority.

[nailer]

In a general election, a leader that most people find acceptable is preferable to a leader that most people do not find acceptable.

[alexbilbie]

Or at least electoral boundaries that didn't unfairly benefit Labour