Candidates picked 'banana republic' style

Australian political parties are behaving as if in a banana republic in how they choose election candidates, Professor David Flint says.

Prof Flint, a Liberal Party member and former Australian Broadcasting Authority chairman, said parties were awarded a certain amount of public money per vote and for that they should be obliged by law to be open, transparent and democratic.

"Nowadays the members of the party are left to do the hack work and go out and distribute pamphlets and raise money. But they're not allowed near the most important thing which is the preselection of candidates," he told ABC television.

With the election looming, political party branches across Australia are choosing their candidates. The NSW Liberal Party is selecting candidates for 22 seats but in just one, Parramatta, will all branch members have a say.

In others, including Mackellar held by Bronwyn Bishop since 1994, candidates will be chosen by small groups of selectors through factional deals.

Despite her fall from grace over the helicopter charter scandal, Mrs Bishop, 73, is tipped to hang onto Mackellar.

Prof Flint said potential candidates weren't standing for preselection because they knew the result had been decided.

"We have political parties behaving as though they're political parties in a banana republic," he said.