When you go to the ballot box, how many of you think about the Senate ballot? It’s that ridiculously long one with the option to vote above the line or below the line.

In 2022, around 80% of voters chose to vote above the line on the Senate ballot, most likely because it’s much easier. If you vote above the line, you only have to rank the candidates from 1 to 6. If you vote below the line, you must rank a minimum of 12 candidates in order of preference, and sometimes there can be a lot of candidates.

So, what’s the problem? The issue is that voting above the line is reserved for political parties. To become a registered party, you need to have 1,500 registered voters sign up and submit your application to the Australian Electoral Commission at least four months before the election is called.

This system favours political parties, but it doesn’t mean that it’s impossible for independents to be elected to the Senate. Increasingly, independents and minor parties are becoming an integral part of the Senate’s composition.

As the chamber of review, the Senate can adapt legislation to make it work for the people. It can negotiate with the lower house to get important legislation passed. Senators can influence which laws are passed and which are prioritised.

Independent voices in the Senate are vital. They serve as a check on the major parties, ensuring that legislation is passed if there’s a breakdown in negotiations between the two parties, or that amendments are made to legislation if needed.

There is a growing appetite for independents. Like in the House of Representatives, voters are increasingly giving their preferences to independents and minor parties across the board.

That’s why we can’t forget about the Senate. We have become comfortable thinking that the six seats in the Senate are neatly divided among the Liberal Party, Labor, and the Greens. In the last election, the sixth seat in Victoria went to Ralph Babet of the United Australia Party.

Ralph Babet’s key policy issues include repealing the social media ban, removing sex education books from schools, advocating for Australia to leave the WHO, and supporting anti-abortion laws. Is this what Victorians really wanted? Or were they simply looking for an alternative to the major parties?

We’ve seen groups like Climate 200 funnel money into community independents in the lower house during this and the last election, but so far, we haven’t seen significant support for community independents in the Senate. We believe it’s time for that to change.

At our relaunch event over the weekend, several supporters expressed their excitement about seeing a community independent in the Senate. They shared their uncertainty about who to vote for in the next election, their disappointment at having to choose one of the major parties, and their enthusiasm for the prospect of voting for Better Together in the Senate.

The time for more independents in the Senate has come. We hope others can see that. People deserve Senators who represent them - not just a party. The Senate is too important not to give people the opportunity to do that.