[Greens-Media] Carr Govt runs Parliament like CityRail

[Hans VanLeeuwen]

Carr Govt runs Parliament like CityRail
Media release - December 6, 2004

The Carr Government’s legislative timetable for the final sitting week has turned Parliament into CityRail’s ugly twin * nothing arrives for ages followed by too much at once.
 
“This week’s legislative program reveals the Carr Government’s typical ineptitude and contempt for the democratic process,” said Greens MP Lee Rhiannon.
 
“For several months, we saw only a trickle of legislation, which left Parliament without enough to do. Now we have just three days to cope with a flood of Bills, and are barely given enough time to consider them in detail.
 
“The Carr Government clearly struggles with timetables. First CityRail, now State Parliament.
 
“Just like CityRail, the Opposition and Cross-Bench MPs have never received a satisfactory explanation for this bizarre way of running Parliament.
 
“This crazy rush does not allow for proper Parliamentary scrutiny * but that’s exactly what the way the Carr Government wants it,” Ms Rhiannon said.

The Government is proposing that the Legislative Council debate up to 20 bills in the remaining 3 days of Parliamentary sittings.
 
 
Hans van Leeuwen
Media Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon
Tel: (61 2) 9230 3551
Fax: (61 2) 9230 3550
Mob: 0425 310 562
hans.vanleeuwen at parliament.nsw.gov.au