Alliance to campaign for democracy

December 8, 1993
Issue 

Alliance to campaign for democracy

By Dave Wright

HOBART — The Tasmanian Community Alliance was formed at a meeting on December 2 to oppose undemocratic legislation introduced by the Groom Liberal government.

In addition to giving parliamentarians a 40% pay rise, Groom proposes to cut the parliament from 35 to 30 members in the Legislative Assembly and from 19 to 15 in the Legislative Council.

The pay rise has been passed by both houses. The bill on the size of parliament is still to be debated.

Cutting the size of the Legislative Assembly would undermine Tasmania's democratic proportional representation system, in which five electorates each elect seven members. It would become possible for Liberal or Labor to win government with only 43% of the vote. The cut is also aimed at stopping alternative political voices from being heard, and narrowing community choice at election time.

A democratic parliamentary reform would be to abolish the Legislative Council and increase the numbers in the Legislative Assembly from 35 to 45. If the Legislative Assembly were increased to 45, this would create greater representation and give smaller parties or independents a better chance of winning a seat.

Both the Greens and the Trades and Labour Council have held rallies to oppose the legislation. On November 30, 150 people attended a rally organised by the Community Alliance. Speakers included former parliamentarian Hank Petrusman, MHA Peg Putt from the Greens, Penny Cocker from the Teachers Union, Paul Stohr from the Council for Civil Liberties and Jim Donovan from the Tasmanian Community Alliance.

The alliance aims to campaign for a referendum on parliamentary reform and the repeal of the pay rise legislation. It will also campaign on issues such as the cutbacks to community services and the public sector, civil liberties and job creation.

Donovan said that the campaign had already attracted considerable interest. "People from all over the state have rung up to say they either want to distribute the referendum petition or hold public meetings to oppose the legislation. People are fed up with Liberal and Labor, and I think that they are prepared to help campaign for an alternative voice."

To contact the Community Alliance phone Jim on 471 574 or Kevin on 346 397.

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