Senate swill

For all the arguments about the way the Senate protects our rights, the regular role of the chamber has been to deny governments the right to govern they acquired by winning a majority in the House of Representatives, and to conjure up political storms of sound and fury signifying sod-all. The important role of the upper house, reviewing legislation and using the committee system to keep an eye on what ministers and their bureaucrats get up to, has been too long prostituted by political nay-sayers who blocked reforms for no better reason than because they could. The ability of fringe interest groups to massage the Senate election system springs from an electoral system so complex and capricious that senators can be elected on tiny primary votes.


From an outstanding editorial in today's Australian. Guaranteed to have latte froth being blown out of nostrils all over Melbourne and Sydney. This is surprising reading, particularly in light of the majority of Australian media's political persuasions. There also a reminder about the ability of Australia's Test cricketers to actually play cricket when required. Be surprised yourself.

The Australian Senate has always been a political target of this government. This statement is from October 2003.

JOHN HOWARD, PRIME MINISTER: There are many pieces of legislation that we believe have been patently part of our program through successive elections, and I quote in particular the unfair dismissal law, which have been rejected despite the patent mandate we have obtained in relation to that.

Now the Howard government has the ability to get it's legislative agenda through parliament it's all doom and gloom over on the socialist side of politics. It's always amusing to see people's showbags fall apart in public. Like the ALP's.

Cross posted at Bastards Inc.

No comments:

Post a Comment

All comments containing Chinese characters will not be published as I do not understand them