Food for Thought 5
Add Values to Refresh Australia
Adding Values through the Senate
When the Government won a Senate majority
in the 2004 election (which it took up in July 2005)
it was handed the opportunity to push through a raft
of contentious legislation, despite the Prime Minister
promising to use this new power with integrity and circumspection.
In previous Parliaments, at least since the emergence
of the Democrats under the late Don Chipp and their refrain
of “let’s keep the bastards honest”,
there was an important check, with neither major
party holding a majority. This meant that others
held the balance of power, and that discernment, deliberation
and negotiation became par for the course. This other
level of scrutiny extended to the all important Senate
Committee system of legislative review. While politics
is never perfect there was something akin to balance
and fairness. The passage of The WorkChoices
Bill and the more recent NT Emergency
Intervention Bill (both long and complex Bills)
demonstrates the need for the Senate to be a
house of Review, the place where further deliberation
adds balance.
The experience of the last two years in the Senate has
clearly demonstrated that it can be a grave disservice
to the integrity of our democracy to have a Senate which
ultimately acts only as a ‘rubber stamp’. How
then to add value to our Senate? This election
offers us that opportunity. Rather than voting “above
the line” and giving our senate vote to one party
only, we can take the time to check out all the Senators
and senate candidates for the six Senate positions available
this time round for our State and vote “below
the line”, numbering each one in order
of preference. This way, we can be assured that our preferences
are distributed according to our wishes and concerns
and that our voice and its value are value adding
to the democratic process.
Adding Values to the Workplace
Recently on AM radio (18 October) the Workplace
Relations Minister, Joe Hockey, claimed that the role
of unions in Australia is essentially over. This suggests
that there is no further need for workers to band together
to negotiate fair pay and conditions for
themselves and others. However, as we have seen in the
past year or so, with the introduction of the WorkChoices legislation
that has removed many hard won conditions and
rights in the workplace, balance has also been
removed.
It behoves us (and Mr Hockey) to recall the words
of Pope Paul VI, "Although … democratic
societies today accept the principle of labour unions,
they are not always open to their exercise. The
important role of union organisations must be admitted;
their object is the representation of the various categories
of workers, their lawful collaboration in the economic
advance of society and the development of their sense
of their responsibility for the realisation of
the common good." Octogesima Adventiens (#14,
1971)
The Minister’s view flies in the face of this wisdom.
Surely in a democracy a diversity of views and
positions is the best, perhaps the only way,
to ensure balance, justice and integrity – in
people’s work/life, in our economy and in our halls
of government.
Adding the Values of Decency and Co-operation
Recently three Senators, from the Greens,
Democrats and Labor respectively, all soon up for re-election,
attended a large candidates’ forum on climate.
(Other parties were invited but failed to send a representative
along.) Despite their differences, and the fact that
two of the Senators are in direct competition for the
Senate seats in Queensland, all three were able
to acknowledge hard work and substantial policy work
put in by the others over the years. There was
a sense that they were representatives open to
the co-operation that Catholic Social Teaching sees as
the basis of society, rather than the basis
of competition so ingrained in the words and world of
capital. To add values to our already materially prosperous
nation requires developing skills in co-operation.
Let’s hope and pray all candidates for public office
understand this too and are able to work for
the ‘common good’ which
includes the interests and needs of others in addition
to our own.
Candidates’ Forums on Climate Change
If you live in the electorates
of Moreton, Bonner or Bowman you will have
the opportunity of checking out the House of
Representatives candidates and their views
on climate. See dates and venues below. At
these forums you will hear what your federal candidates
for the upcoming election will do to prevent
dangerous climate change and protect our future.
>> Bonner electorate
Tuesday 23 October, 6.45pm for 7.00pm start
Uniting Church, 330 Pine Mountain Road, Carina Heights
Guest speaker Chris McGrath will talk about the impacts
of climate change on Queensland
Contact Hannah on 0431 700 793 or hannah.elvery@foe.org.au
>> Bowman electorate
Wednesday 24 October, 6.45pm for 7.00pm start
Redlands Community Cultural Centre, Middle Street, Cleveland
Guest speaker Trevor Berrill, renewable energy expert,
will speak on the potential for a renewable energy future
Contact Lincoln on 0404 351 410 or tice@wisc.edu
>> Moreton electorate
Tuesday 30 October, 6.45pm for 7.00pm start
St Luke's Church Hall, 193 Ekibin Road, Tarragindi
Contact Shani on 0432 050 809 or shanitager@gmail.com
Go to
Food for Thought 6
Return to Refresh Australia! main page
