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CITIZENS INITIATED
REFERENDA - QUEENSLAND
Queensland State Independent Member
for Nicklin, Peter Wellington, has introduced a Private Members Bill on Citizens Initiated
Referenda into State Parliament on August 25th, 1998.
"This historic
Bill will deliver true democracy to the People of Queensland.
Because when it (CIR
Bill) becomes law, it will mean that for the first time in this State, decisions will be
made not only by politicians, but by the people themselves.
And I will be seeking
by-partisan support for the Bill from my parliamentary colleagues."
Peter Wellington said that his Bill
would overcome significant Constitutional impediments which have previously prevented the
introduction of Citizens Initiated Referenda in Queensland.
" I am working
with some of the best Constitutional lawyers in the Nation on this Bill and we are
confident that it will be able to withstand any challenge in the High Court.
What we propose is
that in order to initiate a referendum, two and a half percent of Queensland's voters from
at least 45 State electorates must sign a petition of support.
This means that it is
impossible for a major population centre such as Brisbane to dominate or control a CIR
Bill.
Also, as a cost saving
exercise, I propose that the referenda be held in conjunction with the next scheduled
election either Local, State or Federal."
The Queensland State Independent Member for
Gladstone, Liz Cunningham, was presented with a petition containing 26,000
signatures calling for the introduction of CIR. On Tuesday, March 26, 1997, Liz Cunningham
called for the introduction of Citizens' Initiated Referendums and threatened to introduce
a private member's Bill if the Government failed to heed her call.
Following Peter Wellington's introduction of
his Private Member Bill into State Parliament, it is anticipated that the full contents of
the Bill will be made available and posted onto this WebSite.
This Bill MUST be supported
by ALL Queenslanders.
Then State Attorney-General Matt
Foley undoubtedly speaks for all mainstream party
politicians, obviously fearing the thought of the introduction of Citizens Initiated
Referendums which will deliver some real power to the People, hence his strong opposition
to any proposals to introduce CIR to Queensland.
Mr Foley's statement that CIR
"threatened a healthy participatory parliamentary democracy", is an affront to
all Queenslanders who believe in the democratic process.
It is to combat such barefaced
arrogance on the part of comfortably entrenched party politicians that Queensland, and
indeed Australia as a whole, need to have a referendum process introduced as part of
Constitutional reform that will give Australians a real voice in how they are governed and
the opportunity to terminate unpopular government decisions.
The party politicians appear to
have a rather bizarre understanding of the concept of 'participatory democracy' if they
believe all it involves is to herd the Australian voters to the polls every three years
and then ignore them the rest of the time.
For more: Citizens Initiated Referenda
