[Greens-Media] Greens Call on Premier: Declare a ‘Bob Such Day’ Before Proroguing Parliament

[Franks, Office]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE      November 14, 2014

Greens Call on Premier: Declare a ‘Bob Such Day’ Before Proroguing Parliament

Greens MLC Tammy Franks is calling on the Premier to allocate Government time to Private Members’ Business during the last (currently optional) week of sitting and dedicate the week to the late Dr Bob Such.

The call follows Premier Weatherill’s indication this week that the current session of Parliament will shortly be prorogued. This will ‘wipe the slate clean’ of all current Government and Private Members’ Business on the Notice Paper.

Ms Franks first made the call during Question Time yesterday.

“Private Members Day in the Lower House is typically one hour every sitting Thursday of a Parliamentary week,” Ms Franks said.

“It used to often be colloquially called ‘Bob Such Day’ because of the enormous amount of new and fresh ideas Dr Such brought to the fore of political debate in this state.

“It is within the power of Government to grant additional Private Members’ Business time.

“This would be a fitting way to honour Dr Such’s legacy by supporting full debate of non-Government bills in the week after the Fisher by-election.

“Given the Premier is setting the pause button on Parliament, he could also press the fast-forward button on bills that have passed the Legislative Council that will otherwise lapse. It is expected that the Stolen Generations Reparations Tribunal Bill will be one of the many bills that meets this fate.

“It would be a fitting tribute to debate and decency if the Stolen Generations Reparations Bill were to take precedence in that optional week.”

Media Contact: Lauren Zwaans 0457 549 938


________________________________

The information in this e-mail may be confidential and/or legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, access to it is unauthorised and any disclosure, copying, distribution or action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it is prohibited and may be unlawful.