Unlike the separation of powers in presidential systems, in parliamentary governments the executive is formed on the basis of a majority in the legislature and thus controls the legislature. Contrary to the belief in some quarters, this makes the prime minister of a parliamentary government more powerful than a presidential counterpart with respect to making executive decisions.

At a panel discussion last year, former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser provoked laughter by saying that, no matter how strong the ministers, only a weak prime minister would fail to get his way in Cabinet on a major policy decision.

On the same panel, former Secretary of Defense Paul Barratt provided a very convincing account of why the need for speed in responding to an urgent crisis is a nonissue. To be deployed into active combat operations overseas, even large, well-trained and well-equipped militaries need advance preparations. Remember how many months it took for the U.S. to mobilize for the 1991 Gulf War?