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Location: Government Reform
Discussion: Citizens Initiated Referenda
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Matriarch |
Citizens Initiated Referenda
Mar 10 2008, 1:51 PM EDT
CIR has been used in Switzerland successfully for 120 years. Such referenda nearly made it into the constitution in the 1890s. Labor supported the idea until 1963. They hate it now because the Labor Party has become totally elitist. Many Australian governments since have made electoral promises for it to be discussed if they were elected (John Howard included ) but have not mentioned it again after they were elected. CIR can be used at local government level and/or at State level (used by 26 states in the USA) or at Federal level. In 1993 the residents of Gympie (Queensland) opposed council on the issue of council amalgamation. An unofficial, unsanctioned and strongly debated referendum was organised, paid for and conducted by local citizens. Over 26% of eligible voters took part, with 76% opposed to amalgamation. The referendum forced council to hold an official poll later that year. Over 90% of electors voted and the results reversed the council's earlier decision and stopped amalgamation from taking place. Direct Democracy IS possible in Australia, as the examples above clearly indicate. We should all canvass our politicians to introduce enabling legislation for binding Citizen Initiated Referenda. We would then have the RIGHT to correct our elected representatives when they stray from what the majority of voters want on important matters. All the major Australian political parties have endorsed CIR at some time or other, but when in power they have not legislated it. Citizens' Initiated Referenda (CIR) is not a political party, is not involved with any political party and espouses no political cause other than the rights of all of us to have a more direct say in what is happening in Government. 16 out of 21 found this valuable. Do you? |
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