The public demand is simple; cheaper and cleaner power. In the short term it can't be done. This contradictory demand has contributed mightily to the fractious and unstable politics both between parties and within parties. What is more, the public has demanded Australia abandon one of its greatest comparative advantages; cheap power fuelled by coal.

One of the reasons Rudd Labor defeated the Howard government in 2007 was that you wanted us to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. John Howard wouldn't, because he feared it would particularly disadvantage energy-rich Australia. You didn't mind. You wanted Kyoto signed. So Kevin Rudd won and he signed it. But then Rudd produced his emissions trading scheme. Once you had a look at it, you weren't so sure. You feared it would be "a big new tax". And so it went on … from Julia Gillard and the carbon tax to the National Energy Guarantee. you're never happy.

The problem is the public wants a magic pudding. And politicians are tempted to offer it. Plenty of them are sure they can force renewables onto the public and this will make energy cheaper. But of course they can't, as we have discovered.

And then there are the coal mines. Much of the public want them closed. Mines which were the source of our great comparative advantage: cheap energy and our second biggest generator of export earnings. And one other point about coal. Over half of our coal exports are coking coal for steel works. You can recycle steel by electrolysis but you can't make it without coal. So where are we going with all this? A new world without steel?

A public that's never happy

More than anything, it is the contradictions in the public mind that have contributed to the scandalous degree of political instability we've experienced over the past miserable decade. Think about how you've felt personally about our prime ministers: you became tired of Howard and thought Rudd would be a refreshing change. Then you weren't sure about him; Rudd seemed a bit erratic and dangerous and lacked deep convictions and principles.

Over to Gillard. You loved her for a few weeks; the first female prime minister and by all accounts a thoroughly decent person. Nope. A few months passed and you grew to despise her – even hate her. She was vilified. After a bit more Rudd you elected Abbott. No, didn't like him. He was too aggressive and a bit strange really. You didn't like the way he walked and wasn't he too right-wing?

So over to Malcolm Turnbull. You were sure he would be brilliant but when he started to wrestle with the inevitable contradictions of public aspirations he was "disappointing". I heard it everywhere. What did you expect from someone wrestling with the complexity, uncertainty and celerity of modern events? Jesus Christ and the Twelve Disciples?


Let's see how long you'll like ScoMo … you already dislike Bill Shorten who you judge to be nothing more than a cynical opportunist.

So that's one problem with our polity: you're never happy. Everyone in power is inadequate

What's truly dangerous about this is where it could lead. There are already signs that you think independents might be better. This is a path to national ruin. Instead of the steady centre-right or centre-left governments of many decades that have delivered Australia a better way of life than almost anywhere on earth, we'd have a coalition of chaos.

What's Kerryn Phelps' plan for fiscal consolidation, what's Kathy McGowan's strategy for engaging the Trump administration in Asia, how would Rebekah Sharkie manage the roll-out of 5G and how would this disparate group of opportunists handle heavy ideologues like Andrew Wilkie? Imagine if all of parliament was made up of people like that. How would a government be formed, who'd be the prime minister, the treasurer and the foreign minister?

They'd go back to their electorates every Thursday night and "consult" them. How long would that take? Whatever happened to representatives? We'd end up governed by a gaggle of delegates, nothing more and nothing less.

The Wentworth by election will be a test. Dave Sharma – who worked for me for two years – is intellectually brilliant. He has experience, energy and gravitas. He'd make a great minister. He'd help lead our country through difficult times. Or are people going to vote for someone who offers everything to everyone? Are they going to vote for a chimera?

If disillusion with Liberal and Labor keeps growing, you'll end up with something a lot worse: a coalition of chaos. It's a worrying prospect. Government would be paralysed. The country would stall. Think it through … very carefully. Parties have served us well for more than a century. Whatever their failings, they sure beat a coalition of chaos.

Alexander Downer is a former Australian foreign minister and High Commissioner to the UK. He is a fortnightly columnist for The Australian Financial Review.