Parties Are Not Serious About Democracy: IngramCraig Ingram, says the major political parties have failed to support basic parliamentary democracy during the first sitting week of the 55th Parliament By Craig Ingram MP - 28th February 2003 - Back to News Independent Member for Gippsland East, Craig Ingram, says the major political parties have failed to support basic parliamentary democracy during the first sitting week of the 55th Parliament.
"On Wednesday, Parliament blocked a mechanism to allow private members’ bills and by their actions, it is clear that the major parties do not support free speech or having alternative views expressed," Mr Ingram said.
"We noticed in the last Parliament that there is no real mechanism to have these bills introduced, debated, and voted on.
"It is a fundamental democratic right of a member of Parliament to be able to have the opportunity to put forward a private members’ bill and have the issue debated and voted on.
"The National and Liberal parties sided with Labor to prevent this from occurring, which was hypocritical.
"The conservative parties have had much to say during the past weeks on the demise of democracy and on Labor attempting to gag Parliamentary debate, but when put to the test they voted 83 / 2 to stop private members’ bills. "The parties obviously were not serious regarding their concerns on diminishing speaking opportunities in Parliament," Mr Ingram said.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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