New MPs want to restore faith in politics

By Michael Gordon
Updated August 8 2015 - 2:13am, first published 1:18am
MPs Clare O'Neill and Tim Watts have outlined two visions of where Australia may be in 2040 in a book. Photo: Eddie Jim
MPs Clare O'Neill and Tim Watts have outlined two visions of where Australia may be in 2040 in a book. Photo: Eddie Jim
MP Craig Laundy is preparing to launch Friends of New Democracy, a cross-party group committed to promoting a new form of political participation. Photo: Janie Barrett
MP Craig Laundy is preparing to launch Friends of New Democracy, a cross-party group committed to promoting a new form of political participation. Photo: Janie Barrett
MP Andrew Broad senses a public yearning for politicians to focus less on denigration and more on policy and ideas. Photo: Darren Seiler
MP Andrew Broad senses a public yearning for politicians to focus less on denigration and more on policy and ideas. Photo: Darren Seiler

What struck new MP Tim Watts most about question time when he took his seat in the Parliament after the last election was not the rancour, or the shallowness, or the pettiness or even the name-calling. It was the noise.

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