Ministers just passengers
SIZE OF TASMANIAN PARLIAMENT
I AGREE that the system of Cabinet government is broken in Tasmania (Editorial, October 20). We really haven’t had the optimal ministry since 1998. I remember the old days of 35 members in the House of Assembly, when ministers actually knew what their departments did and hadn’t handed much of their decisionmaking power to some super-bureaucrat at the head of their oversized departments. Today’s ministers are frequently just passengers in their oversized departmental vehicle. There is a backbench of just one and almost everyone ends up with a ministry or senior role regardless of ability.
These super ministries frequently contain conflicting portfolios (the minister for resources or primary industry is often responsible for threatened species). Even if their areas don’t conflict, the minister is only human. If they get in their bundle a ministry they have no real interest in, it will not be effectively represented in Cabinet. Nobody has analysed the savings in reducing parliament. I would say they have been more than consumed by hiring advisers who are doing much of the work that would have been done by backbench MPs (some of these advisers are paid far more than the former MPs). If the parliament goes back to its original numbers, many of the adviser jobs should be shed. twice, for an Aboriginal and general candidates. New Zealand began with four Maori seats in parliament 170 years ago and now has seven Maori seats, guaranteeing the voice of the original people is heard.
The make-up of parliament is meant to reflect the people it governs. There is no Aboriginal among the 40 members. For 200 years the electoral system has ensured Aboriginals could not vote an Aboriginal into parliament. Imagine an elected Aboriginal raising issues of dispossession, genocide and responsibility. The person would add a spark to dull proceedings and give young Aboriginals something to aim for as representatives of their people and issues. All that is required is an amendment to the Greens’ proposal to increase the number of politicians to accommodate an Aboriginal seat. Aborigines either have a right to govern, or a right to be governed — which is it?
Restructure
SUE Hickey rightly seems to seek a rethink of state Parliament to reduce partybased adversarialism (October 12). One way might be to convert the Legislative Council to an executive council of 15 ministers, who choose a premier from themselves: 10 elected by the five electorates (Hare-Clark, probably one Labor, one Liberal from each), who then choose the other five (probably excellent potential ministers that didn’t want to campaign).
Next, end the farce of Question Time. Instead, MHAs would each sit on three of 15 committees, each to quiz the relevant minister each week on execution of law and policy, on proposed changes, and on Union says education department too slow to act on stopwork Unions have a cheek it’s their decision to STOP work and now they blame the government for not telling parents — maybe instead of grandstanding to the media they communicate to their stakeholders — oh that’s right what responsibility do they have to the taxpayer. current and proposed expenditure. Finally, to stop a party dominating the house, one could limit each party to two members in each electorate.
Time-wasters
TASMANIA has the population of a smallish city. It does not need, and cannot afford, 40 members of Parliament and hundreds of councillors. A 40 per cent increase in the Lower House would be even more ridiculous. Note that the current lot waste most of their time playing political theatre. What Tasmania badly needs is a new system of government, one that attracts competent, experienced people who can work together for the good of the state. About half the current number should be more than sufficient.
One house should do it
WITH a population of 526,663, less than 2.5 per cent of the national population, Tasmania does not need, nor can afford or justify, two levels of state Parliament (Legislative Council 15 members and 25 House of Assembly Members), but only requires a single parliament of 35 members and no more than 10 (not 29) councils, equivalent to one council per 50,000. The greatest challenge will be the cost of aged care. The savings would be a contribution for this purpose. Both Queensland and New Zealand operate satisfactorily with single parliaments.
Snake escape
DID the snake found at the entrance of the RHH come from Parliament House?
Freedom to roam
THE United Kingdom “Right to roam” laws have now been in place for nearly 20 years. They seem to work well. Is this something we should consider here in Australia?
Speaker says so much
I HAVE never in all my time heard a Speaker of the House have so much to say. Normally you never hear them at all. I honestly believe she has her eye on the top job, so watch out Will because she will have a lot more to say. Stick to Christmas trees Sue.
Safe schools
OUR Prime Minister’s move to block the ejection of gay students rings a little hollow given his opposition to the Safe Schools program.
Family reputation
THINKING Liberals should thank Malcolm, Lucy and Alex Turnbull for enhancing the reputations of Billy, Sonia and Julian McMahon, as a class family act.