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Mps Gagged On Won Wron FutureLocal Members of Parliament have been gagged from speaking at a public meeting regarding the Indigenous Diversion Program planned for the former Won Wron Prison site, Liberal Member for Gippsland Province Philip Davis said today. By Philip Davis - 4th August 2005 - Back to News Mr Davis said the Minister for Corrections Tim Holding had deliberately planned the meeting on a Parliamentary sitting week to make it difficult for local parliamentarians to attend.
Minister Holding’s office also informed Mr Davis while he was welcome to attend, he would not be permitted to speak at the meeting.
"As this program is being established in my electorate of Gippsland Province, I have an obligation to participate in the debate on this issue on behalf of my constituents with the Minister in this forum," Mr Davis said.
"While I have been invited by the Minister to attend, I have been advised my comments would not be welcome.
"It is absolutely appalling that the Bracks Government would attempt to gag local Members of Parliament at a public meeting – especially on such an important issue as this.
"But worse than that, as a consequence of the meeting being held during a Parliamentary sitting week, as the Leader of the Opposition in the Upper House, I will be unable to attend this meeting.
"It is obvious the Minister has organized this meeting in the middle of a sitting week in an attempt to avoid Opposition scrutiny."
Mr Davis said the Yarram community had already been kept in the dark about the plans for this facility and its implications.
"Now the Bracks Government says publicly it will be open and honest about this issue, organizes a public meeting, but puts conditions on the information that will be available to the community," he said.
"Given these restrictions, the Yarram community cannot be assured they will be given the whole story at this public meeting.
"If Minister Holding was serious about open and honest consultation, he would encourage active debate and discussion between all members of the community, including those who are elected to represent them in Parliament."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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