@Jay Bryant We have a multi-party system in Australia. It has been slowly devolving to a two-party system, as the two most powerful parties keep putting roadblocks in front of other parties and finding ways to decommision them.

Even so, a multi-party system still requires wealthy donors in order to campaign effectively. Career politicians of all parties can and do become disconnected from their electorate, the people they are supposed to represent.

I wouldn't say "quite a few others", but definitely others! Clive Palmer's people mostly get in on the strength of his wealth.

Once upon a time we didn't have above the line and below the line voting. We didn't have the Federal Govmint telling The Progressive Party for instance that they couldn't run because they just made this rule that says they don't have enough people to run.

Oh and all these shenanigans:

Eight things you need to know about the Government’s plan to change Australian elections

Oh look! They still have not brought back truth in advertising applying to political advertising! So by law our parties are allowed to lie, lie, lie without consequences. They removed that regulation the first year I moved to Australia back in 1989.

Eight things you need to know about the Government’s plan to change Australian elections - The Australia Institute

And eight ideas to improve it

^{Hayden Starr (The Australia Institute)}

The Sex Party became The Reason Party.

The Australian Pirate Party was inspired by the European Pirate Party. I approached them in their early days to find out what they were about. They hadn't had a meeting in some time, and so told me I could organise a meeting for them. I did. It turned out that in Australia the people who gathered under that name did so because they felt it was the tech-bro party. I still didn't have a full grasp of the group, so I was convinced to organise another meeting. When it became clear that these people were largely libertarian, I politely bowed out. People really liked that I was doing the work and stayed friends with me--but not my thing. It has evolved over the years and may be more my thing now. Maybe I need to organise more meetings to find out! XD

speaking only as a member/supporter of those parties mentioned, what is now Fusion draws from them all, as well as the Hemp party. Legalise Cannabis is another party altogether but of course has members from Hemp as well as various others that have found themselves too small to make a dent but perhaps could get a seat as an amalgamation.
Maybe more meetings would be an idea! 😁

i still pine for the heady days of More Beer ;))

just a murmur: i wonder how sortition could overcome the perhaps-problem of the random reps being flooded with offers of money or being otherwise influenced by those with a vested interest in the results of proposed legislation. Would it be opening the floodgates to corruption...and how could we prevent said random reps from behaving irresponsibly in their duties, knowing they have only to get through a term and never be heard of again..
we have something akin to transparency atm but i doubt anyone is 100% convinced that's working.

it is an interesting idea nonetheless.
i quite like your proposals, @Simon Ashcroft

This a legitimate sleeping position!

I still won't try it...