Govt out of control: Opposition(Australia)

[cal04]

The Federal Opposition has accused the Government of being "drunk with power" after announcing it will present two major pieces of legislation into Parliament on consecutive days. The Government plans to introduce the anti-terrorism laws on Melbourne Cup day and the workplace relations package the day after. Labor's Stephen Smith thinks it is proof the Government is out of control. "This whole process angers me because what we find is a Government drunk with power, arrogantly ramming things through the Parliament," he said. Labor argues it is crazy to introduce bills on Melbourne Cup day. Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley thinks Prime Minister John Howard has stooped to new depths by introducing the bills on Cup day.

Mr Beazley believes Mr Howard is trying to hide behind the famous horse race to avoid scrutiny of the legislation. One of the major sticking points with state and territory leaders has been the shoot-to-kill policy in the package. "Now we've seen them do some pretty low things over the years but hiding behind Australia's great national sporting event, the Melbourne Cup, to have Parliament debate and pass through your shoot-to-kill laws is as low as you can go," Mr Beazley said. But Prime Minister John Howard disagrees. "The idea that Parliament, having decided to sit on Melbourne Cup day, you somehow or other calibrate the legislation to introduce on that day is ridiculous," he said.

The Government wants both bills debated on the day they are introduced. Mr Howard says he has had discussions about the anti-terrorism legislation with some state and territory leaders and he believes the talks are progressing well. "I have spoken to three of them and I hope to speak to more of them today ... and I think we are making quite good progress," he said. Victorian Premier Steve Bracks believes the Federal Government is prepared to compromise over the shoot-to-kill provision.

The states have raised objections about the shoot-to-kill provision, saying it was not part of the original Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreement. Mr Bracks says he spoke to Mr Howard yesterday and suggested a compromise that would make the legislation reflect the original agreement. "That could be done by using the existing criminal code and not required to have behind preventative detention any other special arrangements," he said. "The Prime Minister supports that and we'll seek some other legal advice on that matter."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200510/s1491150.htm
this sounds familiar

[Rex]

1. Australia, UK and America.

At least Italy and Spain figured it out. Seems like Corporate states are really taking off in capitalist societies.

[ngGale]

2. OMG - I do hope they compromise on the...

'shoot-to-kill' provision...sounds too much like US policy.
Drunk with power.:grr:

[WearyOne]

3. a pox on Howard & Co

[Matilda]

4. Howard is an arrogant little prick.

Of course he's chosen Tuesday deliberately - the whole country stops.
It's an official public holiday in Melbourne. What's wrong with
waiting one more day? He's only allowed one week to debate the
issue anyway, and most legal and constitutional advice says that
it should be discussed for months.

We can only hope that Steve Fielding (Families First) and Barnaby
Joyce (National Party) will put their money where their mouths are,
and cross the floor.

[PinkUnicorn]

5. Unfortunately

'Backdown' Barnaby showed his colours during the sell off of Telstra (the national phone carrier). Promise him and the Nationals a helping of pork and they're yours - they're the Liberal party in everything but name. As for family first, I have a strong suspicion they will use this as leverage for some kind of 'religious morality' proposal.

As for Labour, well they seemed to have caught the same disease which is affecting the US Democrats. Howard and company have dropped their pants, waved their butts in the air and are begging Labour to insert a size ten boot between their cheeks. So what does Labour and Beasley do? They put on their size tens, take aim, and kick themselves in the teeth - repeatedly.

It was said the only thing stopping Howard from disappearing up Bushes arse was Tony Blair's feet. Now that Blair seems to have slunk back into the shadows, Bonsai Howard is crawling for all he's worth.

[myrna minx]

6. This is straight out of the Bu$hco playbook.

What a sleazy move.

[Matilda]

7. I sometimes wonder if KKKarl Rove isn't advising Howard as well.

n/t

[cal04]

8. I wouldn't be surprised. His son was working

for the Bush re election campaign

[myrna minx]

9. Rove may have sent out his resume since he will soon be unemployed...

and he may need to flee the USA. :evilgrin: I wouldn't be surprised if Howard has sent surrogates to learn at the knee of Rove.