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The other big stabiliser for Australia, say experts, is preferential voting – where voters effectively number their candidates in order of who they want to win.

Experts say preferential voting tempers the effects of polarisation and forces the two major parties to appeal to people who aren't necessarily voting for them first in order to receive their next preferences, which also helps moderate policy.

Voting is mandatory for all citizens over 18, the country uses preferential voting, and picking up a "democracy sausage" is a polling day custom.

Candidates to replace him will need 100 nominations from party members to get on the ballot paper, with the contest conducted using a preferential voting system.

The contest will be conducted using a preferential voting system.