[Greens-Media] Rees risks further damage to Labor govt from deal making attempts with Shooters

[Lee Rhiannon]

 MEDIA RELEASE 17 August 2009



Rees risks further damage to Labor govt from deal making attempts with
Shooters

Attempts by representatives of Premier Nathan Rees to lock in a deal with
the Shooters Party MPs will further damage the Labor government’s standing
with the public, Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said today. (Sydney Morning Herald,
17 August 2009, Page 1)

“The Premier and his ministers should stop trying to ‘control’ the Upper
House and instead work to win a majority of MPs by debating the merits of
their legislation,” Ms Rhiannon said.

“Today’s report that the Premier’s chief of staff, Graeme Wedderburn, and
the Treasurer, Eric Roozendaal, have been trying to win back Robert Brown
and Roy Smith as reliable backers of government business in the Upper House
will further inflame the mounting opposition to Labor.

“This is not just an inner city issue as the backers of shooting in national
parks attempt to portray it. My office has received over 1000 messages from
people opposed to this plan and many are from country folk concerned for
their safety and the protection of wildlife.

“In the Upper House the Labor government needs three votes to have their
legislation passed. On the majority of bills they have the support of
Christian Democrat MP Fred Nile. With unpopular bills the two Shooters Party
MPs have reliably delivered their votes until the arrangements broke down
over the Game and Feral Animal Control Amendment Bill.

“There are four Greens MPs in the Upper House and our voting pattern shows
that when the government brings forward legislation that benefits the people
of NSW and the environment we will vote for it.

"Premier Rees could go some way to restoring his damaged credibility by
cutting the deal making with the Shooters MPs. Past deals the Labor
government has backed have resulted in weakening in NSW of the national
uniform gun laws passed after the Port Arthur massacre and have made it is
easier for perpetrators of domestic violence to have their guns restored.

“The government should allow the NSW Legislative Council to operate as
intended as a house of review where government activities are scrutinised
and legislation as necessary is amended or rejected.

“The Premier should leave the management of feral animals up to the
professionals and he should do his job as the leader of NSW and concentrate
on improving the quality of his government’s legislation," Ms Rhiannon said.



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