Coalition is the real threat to democracy in Australia
I RECALL when the front doors of the old Parliament House were on fire following a protest, the Prime Minister saw the action as an assault on our democracy.
Yet no government has launched such unrelenting and subversive attacks on our democratic system as this present federal Coalition government has.
It defied the Australian Senate when the Senate was probing the Jobkeeper program, it refused to debate legislation for an ICAC with the Prime Minister saying he did not want a “kangaroo court” (which was quite contemptuous of the justice system) and during question time in the House of Representatives earlier this year I lost count of the number of times Defence Minister Peter
Dutton, Leader of the House, moved “the member (Labor) no longer be heard”.
However, there is a more insidious threat to our democratic system.
If we listen to the language uttered by federal Coalition members, they show disdain toward those who would exercise their constitutional right to offer themselves as candidates for parliament as independents, hence offering an alternative voice to the political narrative.
Then, of course, those same members will perseverate on a fear of a hung parliament arguing that a hung parliament will result in chaos: “we need certainty and stability” is the call.
Of course, they hasten to refer to the Gillard government as chaotic but, which contrary to popular belief, was very productive.
Through what could be argued as superior negotiation skills prime minister Gillard formed a coalition with the Greens and enlisted support from independents.
Former prime minister Abbott, as opposition leader, had exactly the same opportunity.
With the fear of a hung parliament comes a fear of coalitions.
This is totally irrational given that the Liberal Party has functioned in both government and opposition for
decades in coalition with the Country Party and now National Party, not necessarily in concert with each other.
The Coalition seems not to understand that in many nations coalitions have been melded in order to form government.
Prime Minister Ardern of New Zealand now enjoys an absolute majority in parliament but previously she governed in a coalition.
The federal Coalition now expresses a fear that the Labor Party will form a coalition with the Greens
in order to govern and that such a coalition would be disastrous.
What the Coalition is really saying is that it could be denied what it believes is its divine right to rule.
The federal parliamentary Labor Party has dismissed entering a coalition with the Greens.
That could prove to be a grave error.
RAYMOND HORN, Annandale.
STATE’S RENTAL CRISIS
IT behoves our state government in Queensland to ensure even our poorest citizens have a roof over their heads.
That’s why we pay taxes, in a society where equity and social justice aren’t a reality in a system of distribution of life’s necessities.
The housing and health crisis impact our national health.
Our hospitals are not coping with the historical high demand.
Now ambulance ramping is common.
Hospital beds are in short supply. Homelessness only adds to the crisis.
As a child, I grew up with other low-income families, in an entire suburb of state Housing Commission, low-rental homes.
There were many such suburbs across our state, providing safe housing for struggling families on welfare or low incomes.
It was a close-knit community that cared about each other’s welfare.
The rent crisis today, displays a total governmental disregard for those struggling to find low-cost rentals, in a high-demand, low-supply rental market.
Those on welfare have no hope on the rental market.
Now rentals go to the highest bidder.
Investment in state government social housing has stalled – definitely not an election priority.
Rather than the billions invested in Cross-river Rail in Brisbane and building even more bridges, preparing for the 2032 Queensland Olympic Games, look to your citizens’ needs today.
The Olympics mean exorbitant borrowing, only adding to the historically high state deficit, a legacy of every Labor government.
The state government’s focus on image-promoting projects with unconscionable spending, ignores the crisis in state-sponsored housing.
This should be a basic priority for any government as a given.
Our poorest citizens in a resource
rich nation as Australia, deserve this provision. Politicians prioritising working for their constituents’ welfare are a rarity.
The 2032 Olympics successful bid augurs well for Palaszczuk’s resume, after she moves on.
Who picks up the tab, after the carnival is over?
ELOISE ROWE, Tannum Sands.
FILM DEPICTS CAPE LANDING
I HAVE just read that a movie has been made about the life of James Morrill who came ashore at Cape Cleveland after his ship, the
Peruvian, was wrecked in 1846.
He was taken in by the local Aboriginal tribe and remained with them for 17 years.
The film should be released in Australia in October.
Because of Covid the film was made in New South Wales.
What a shame it was not filmed locally.
In 1863 James Morrill published an account of his history and time with the local Aboriginal tribe.
The full text is available at the
JCU Library nqheritage site at nqheritage.jcu.edu.au/724/
RITA BISLEY,
Kelso.