Actually it is of great importance. With the deals done in the background, a minority get their moment of importance and the ability to force up the majority policies that would prevent them being elected to govern in their own right.
No argument from me there! The "no importance" comment was purely legal based.
It is the bane of a two-party system. I prefer preferential voting where you are more than likely to end up with 3 medium to large parties where two will need to form a coalition.
It means more stable policies (no knee-jerk reactions every time government changes) and cleaner politics as it's a bit hard to trash talk the opposition when soon you'll have to form a government with them.
The whole idea of "local representation" in the form of electorates/constituencies is rather outdated anyway. Might as well just vote for a party...
Has its drawbacks too, of course. The occasional embarrassing failed government for one.
