2 November 2011

Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!*

| johnboy
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The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the Greens have got up their legislation to remove executive veto over territory legislation.

As the previous vetos were still disallowable instruments the practical effect of this is almost nil, but lots of people are excited by the symbolism.

A spokeswoman for ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher welcomed the bill.

“After 20 years of self-government, it was time for change,” she said.

“Canberrans should enjoy the same right as other Australian citizens to have their elected representatives make laws without the prospect of a single minister vetoing.”

She said the ACT would like to see a full review of the Self-Government Act.

Chief Minister Gallagher’s office has not, at this time, seen fit to actually share a media release on the subject with the people of the ACT.

If you think the Greens would give a banana scented turd on this issue if not for the possibility of getting up legislation they approve of I’ve got some bridges to sell you.

Bring on the euthanasia for gay whales.

UPDATE: The Greens Meredith Hunter has blown the horn for this verdant triumph:

“This Bill is the first Australian Greens Law passed by both houses of Parliament, and it’s about standing up for the rights of the people of the ACT & NT,” Ms Hunter said.

“I think it shows the respect that Bob Brown and the Greens have for the peoples and Parliaments of the Territories.

“It doesn’t make sense that the people of the ACT can make laws democratically only to have them vetoed by the stroke of a pen by a Federal Minister, without any debate.

“These changes still allow Federal oversight, but it requires a debate in both houses and a vote to overturn a Territory law.

“The ACT does not get the attention it deserves from the Australian Parliament which makes the ongoing interest and support for Canberra from the Australian Greens and in particular Senator Bob Brown so positive.

“Despite campaigning on allegedly ‘standing up for Canberra’ the local Liberal Senator, Gary Humphries, voted against this reform and against the enhanced democratic rights of Canberrans,” Ms Hunter said.

* http://history1900s.about.com/od/martinlutherkingjr/a/mlkquotes.htm

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poetix said :

caf said :

Thoroughly Smashed said :

Apparently freedom is bad.

Freedom is Slavery, haven’t you heard?

I love a zombie thread like a stinky Pet Semetary pet, but is there any reason for this popping back up?

(That comment I made (#7) is the most serious thing I have ever posted. I think it must be someone else pretending to me, for some weird reason. I can’t believe it isn’t nutter, in other words.)

Because legislation just passed in APH allowing the Legislative Assembly to decide its own number of MLAs.

caf said :

Thoroughly Smashed said :

Apparently freedom is bad.

Freedom is Slavery, haven’t you heard?

I love a zombie thread like a stinky Pet Semetary pet, but is there any reason for this popping back up?

(That comment I made (#7) is the most serious thing I have ever posted. I think it must be someone else pretending to me, for some weird reason. I can’t believe it isn’t nutter, in other words.)

Thoroughly Smashed said :

Apparently freedom is bad.

Freedom is Slavery, haven’t you heard?

Thoroughly Smashed9:22 am 04 Nov 11

Apparently freedom is bad.

justin heywood said :

Perhaps a little ‘Federal oversight” might scuttle ridiculous indulgences like the aptly named ‘pleasure dome’.

Because as we all know, the Fed Gov is well-recognised for its high levels of common sense and excellent track record on decision-making…

justin heywood9:18 pm 03 Nov 11

Have we gone collectively mad? The Greens, naturally, are only focused on their narrow little ideological battles. For them, the end always justifies the means. But why give the third- rate ACT Government more power just to placate them?

Perhaps a little ‘Federal oversight” might scuttle ridiculous indulgences like the aptly named ‘pleasure dome’.

We should change the signs on the Federal Highway to read:

“Welcome to the ACT – Give us your transgender, your dying, your Afghan refugees yearning to breathe pot”

God help up all.

Gay, disabled, migrating whales eating GM-free krill, dodging wayward shopping bags and holding their CO2 emitting breaths. The Greens care about them.

Like JB suggested, if you think the Greens give a toss about the residents of the ACT then I have some magic rocks I can sell to you.

You tell em man. It’s obviously all part of a gigantic conspiracy to enslave us under the UN one world communist government run by the reptoids!!!

This makes up for thousands of plastic bag bans.

Beau Locks said :

Top work Greens.

Hear, hear. Fan-bloody-tastic outcome. Thanks, Greens!

Top work Greens.

Grail said :

Snarky said :

I listened to part of the parliamentary debate on this %u2026 the only thing this bill changes is that the overturning has to be done through debate in the two chambers (like it is for states now) and not just at the Minister’s discretion (as it is now for ACT, NT and Norfolk Island).

This is exactly what the bill was intended to achieve: allowing the territories to have the same legislative freedom as the rest of the federation.

The Commonwealth Parliament does not have the right to override State legislation on many matters; those which were not ceded to the Commonwealth under the Constitution. A legal challenge would be necessary in some cases if a State legislated on what the Federal Government saw as a Commonwealth matter, and more particularly if the Commonwealth was seen by a State to have encroached into its jurisdiction, to decide who had the power to legislate in the area concerned. The Commonwealth still clearly has the power to legislate for the Territories.

Thoroughly Smashed10:31 am 02 Nov 11

johnboy said :

If you think the Greens would give a banana scented turd on this issue if not for the possibility of getting up legislation they approve of I’ve got some bridges to sell you.

A political party focusing attention on an issue that facilitates a core policy. How dare they!

Snarky said :

I listened to part of the parliamentary debate on this … the only thing this bill changes is that the overturning has to be done through debate in the two chambers (like it is for states now) and not just at the Minister’s discretion (as it is now for ACT, NT and Norfolk Island).

This is exactly what the bill was intended to achieve: allowing the territories to have the same legislative freedom as the rest of the federation.

pseudonymous9:44 am 02 Nov 11

Snarky said :

I listened to part of the parliamentary debate on this – it won’t open up the possibility of territory-only law relating to (for example) gay marriage or euthanasia. Federal government still retains the right to overturn any state or territory legislation not in line with Fed legislation. The only thing this bill changes is that the overturning has to be done through debate in the two chambers (like it is for states now) and not just at the Minister’s discretion (as it is now for ACT, NT and Norfolk Island). It’s nothing more than an equaliser between states and territories for this particular function.

I weep for the state of civics education in this country.

Snarky said :

I listened to part of the parliamentary debate on this – it won’t open up the possibility of territory-only law relating to (for example) gay marriage or euthanasia. Federal government still retains the right to overturn any state or territory legislation not in line with Fed legislation. The only thing this bill changes is that the overturning has to be done through debate in the two chambers (like it is for states now) and not just at the Minister’s discretion (as it is now for ACT, NT and Norfolk Island). It’s nothing more than an equaliser between states and territories for this particular function.

Yep, but even before this legislation it only took one senator’s motion to disallow the veto.

I listened to part of the parliamentary debate on this – it won’t open up the possibility of territory-only law relating to (for example) gay marriage or euthanasia. Federal government still retains the right to overturn any state or territory legislation not in line with Fed legislation. The only thing this bill changes is that the overturning has to be done through debate in the two chambers (like it is for states now) and not just at the Minister’s discretion (as it is now for ACT, NT and Norfolk Island). It’s nothing more than an equaliser between states and territories for this particular function.

I think this MLK quote is more appropriate to what will happen now. One of my favourites when I talk about the ACT government and the Greens (ACT and Federal)

‘Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.’

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