Page 3385 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 13 October 1993
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It is interesting to note that when members of parliament have stood up and said, "We must have a referendum, we must take this matter to the people", I have never heard the word "cost" used. I have asked thousands of people about this, and no-one has ever put up their hand and said that yes, they have heard a member of parliament, when proposing a referendum - not in opposition, but when they are proposing the referendum - use the word "cost". It is only when the people want the right to hold a referendum that we hear about cost.
The Canberra Times on 12 October, in an editorial headed "Governing by opinion poll", said:
Politics is not just about populism ...
(Extension of time granted) I read from the World Book Dictionary, volume 2:
populism: Belief in or devotion to the needs, rights and aspirations of the common people.
The Canberra Times says that politics is not just about populism. Perhaps if we moved more towards populism it would be beneficial. However, I do not doubt that the editor misunderstood the word. He certainly misunderstood the law. He said:
it is about making hard choices and rationing scarce resources.
In Australia, the most wealthy, resource-rich nation on earth? Come on! He went on to say:
The critical choices which politicians must make are rarely reduced to simple yes and no questions. The latest flirter with CIR, Kate Carnell, leader of the ACT Liberals, has instanced the closure of Royal Canberra Hospital as a referendum question. But such a question would, to be legitimate, have to give choices: Should we close Canberra hospital and maintain the general level and standard of health services? Or should we retain Royal Canberra but sack 200 health workers to keep costs at national average levels, or retain Canberra hospital and increase rates by 10 per cent?
If he had read the Bill, or asked me, he would understand that in subclause 23(6) we cover preferential voting. Of course you need to cover a situation where there may need to be multiple choices. The editor went on:
Far from dispelling the power of special interest groups, as some suggest, CIR could make politicians hostage to them.
What absolute nonsense! We need to understand that a referendum is not an opinion poll. First of all, details are required as to the number of people needed - as I said, perhaps 8,000 in the ACT - to initiate the referendum. It is not an opinion poll. It is put to every elector in the ACT to make a decision, after lengthy discussion in the community and after the detailed provisions of the questions and the draft electors Bill have been put to the people of the ACT.
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