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November 11, 2005
I've had my head whilst I've been busy putting a report together that responds to Productivity Commission's position paper on Health Workforce issues. So kinda lost touch with federal Parliament and the news these last couple of days--apart from all the stuff about The Dismissal. I supported Whitlam but I'm all for a strong Senate with big powers.
I do remember a headline saying that the IR Bill was passed by the House of Representatives. And the Senate? Whilst trying to find out this cartoon caught my eyeas it referred to the cutting short of the debate:
Geoff Pryor
Not many people understand what the guillotine means in federal parliament. It gags debate. The government can do this --and push legislation through--- because it has the numbers.
That is one of the consequences of executive dominance. What the cartoon omits is the incompetent Speaker. Mike Seccombe in the Sydney Morning Herald says it well: 'David Hawker is the most inept and partisan speaker since Labor's egregious Leo McLeay gave up the chair 13 years ago.'
So inept and partisan that David Hawker brings Parliament into disrepute.
Oh I remember now. A Senate committee is looking at the IR legislation. The IR bill will be introduced into the Senate next month.
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check your anchor tags.
The guillotine/gag should be removed from parliament.
So should the motion that a member no longer be heard if their comments are of substance.