When a candidate stands for election, they enter into a social contract with the electors to serve the full term if elected; to be elected, then resign because the result was not to their liking is contemptuously insulting and an act of bad faith towards those who worked hard to get them elected and it is a breach of their social contract with the electors. To expect the taxpayers to waste millions for a new election because of their bad faith and dishonesty to the electors is unacceptable.
A priority for the new government is to change the legislation so those who resign after being elected or before their term is completed pay for the by-election they needlessly created, or the person who polled second at the election takes their place. If they refuse, then the person who polled the subsequent highest vote.
G J May
Forestdale
