We had a referendom on proportional representation and it was rightly rejected.
Proportional representation has caused a lot of problems in Italy.
My prefered electoral system is that of Australia: optional preferential voting for local representation in the lower house and STV (Single Transferable Vote) for State representation in the senate. It tends to produce a reasonably stable government based on a quasi 2 party system (Labour on the left and a stable coalition on the right). The Senate on the other hand tends to be more proportional with smaller parties achieving the required quota and often holding a very influential "balance of power".
Just back on Aus, seems to be a hybrid of the UK and US systems - just reading though, they are on their fifth PM in five years - don't know the reasons, but doesn't sound like a great way to go about it - worse then Italy isn't it?
Only two elections in that time (last year and in 2010). Rest has been back stabbing inside the parties in the hope of hanging on to power.
Technically two of the PMs were the same (Welsh) woman!
