WHILE Federal Parliament debated the ACT’s right the legislate about euthanasia this week, another, perhaps more important, ACT matter also remains under federal control: the size of our Parliament. The two questions highlight the need for a bit of tweaking of what is, in effect, the ACT’s Constitution – the Commonwealth Australian Capital Territory Self-Government Act. Continue reading “ACT deserves its own Constitution”
Month: November 2010
In the dark on National Broadband Network
THE back-of-the-envelope figures for the National Broadband Network have always been line-ball. The business plan, whose release has been squabbled over this week, cost $25 million to produce. But you don’t need $25 million to see the difficulty. Continue reading “In the dark on National Broadband Network”
What about the other constitutional changes?
THE referendum to recognise Indigenous people in the Constitution announced this week is all very well, but there are equally deserving symbolic and practical changes which deserve at least equal billing. Continue reading “What about the other constitutional changes?”
Can the Greens replace Labor?
PRIME Minister Julia Gillard described it as a Government that had “lost its way”. This week Climate Change Minister Greg Combet used slightly different words. He said the Australian Labor Party had failed ”to make sure that people grasped what drives us, what our values are”. The difference is significant. Continue reading “Can the Greens replace Labor?”