If politicians were elected on past performance, rather than on their promises, Page MP Janelle Saffin would romp home, according to democracy advocate FairGO.
Ms Saffin was ranked third most responsive federal politician by the group, based on how the pollies responded to voters during the last parliamentary term.
FairGO bases its measure on how (and if) the politicians respond to questions from the community, which it sends in the form of ‘Votergrams’.
‘Every MP has an equal chance to respond to each Votergram because the Votergram service takes each message to every MP. FairGO has ranked politicians on performance before each election since 1993,’ a group spokesperson said yesterday.
Independent MP for New England Tony Windsor, Labor health minister Tanya Plibersek, ALP member for Page Janelle Saffin, and The Greens’ Adam Brandt member for Melbourne scooped the pool for their performance over this term. They have been respectively ranked first, second, third and fourth out of 226 federal MPs.
Ms Saffin has come in third before and consistently been ranked as one of the most responsive MPs, in both federal and NSW parliaments.
Mr Windsor won ‘by a country mile’ this time, outclassing all other MPs as he has done since he joined the federal Parliament over a decade ago.
Health minister Tanya Plibersek has held second place for the previous two parliamentary terms, despite carrying a weighty portfolio.
Mr Bandt is a newcomer who has shown a great willingness to assist voters on their issues and concerns.
Other exceptional performers were Greens’ Christine Milne and Lee Rhiannon, Labor’s Melissa Parke and Matthew Thistlethwaite, Liberal’s Bruce Billson, Paul Fletcher and Gary Humphries and Nationals’ John Williams.
A full list of responsive MPs will be soon posted on the FairGO website.
