[Greens-Media] Senate to vote on ACT's democracy

[Manderson, Roland]

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ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey MEDIA RELEASE
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13 Sept 06



Senate to vote on ACT's democracy

 ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey has called on the Territory's Senators to
demonstrate their support for ACT self government tomorrow.

 "Tomorrow in the Senate, Greens leader Bob Brown will move a Bill to
take away from the Federal Government executive the power to disallow
laws passed by the Assembly" Dr Foskey said today.

"The ACT suffers from a real democracy deficit. We are underrepresented
in the Australian Parliament; and our own Legislative Assembly can be
overridden, not just by Parliament but by the executive of the Federal
Government as well".

 "I am pleased that my colleague Bob Brown is prepared to stand up for
the ACT.   And I'm calling on Labor Senator Kate Lundy and Liberal
Senator Gary Humphries to support him."

"The ACT Assembly is perhaps the most democratic parliament in
Australia. We are selected by proportional representation, and are
easily accessible to our constituents."  

"And while I can see no good reason why the Federal Parliament should be
able to override Assembly decisions, I can see no reason at all why the
Prime Minister should have that power in his own hands."

"The Federal Government is clearly interested in power rather than
democracy. That is why I expect it will not support Senator Brown's
Bill.   People who value democracy should keep their eye on the ACT's
Senator Humphries" said Dr Foskey.


[The Bill debated in the Senate tomorrow is the Australian Capital
Territory (Self-Government) Amendment (Disallowance Power of the
Commonwealth) Bill 2006]

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Roland Manderson   Media Advisor
ACT   Greens    MLA  Deb  Foskey  
Legislative Assembly for the ACT 
ph(02)62050551      m 0412241379
====== www.debfoskey.com ======= 
  
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