Candidate Questionaires for 8 October

Individual conscience and independent thought or diversity of opinions in a Parliament aren’t the same thing.

Individual conscience is a principle that in a parliamentary party (even a major party), members of parliament should be free to vote as their conscience dictates. Basically a non-binding caucus.

In Australia it went into sharp decline very quickly. The ALP have never believed in it. The ‘liberal’ parties (as in the parties that evolved from Free Trade and Protectionist) have believed in it to some extent.

However we can see that it has gone into sharp decline (don’t have the figures but it is apparent). In the Howard years, Senator Humphries was the first coalition member of parliament to cross the floor in his Government. That was in…2004?

I fail to see the relevance of the Billy Trenwith quote.

Re my dangerous naivety: No doubt there are many things of which individual conscience is just one. At least with this one though I’m not alone I suppose.

Re The Publics dislike of diversity: I have no evidence, it’s merely a feeling I’ve gotten over the last decade and a half. Any scrape of division or difference of opinion, the media pounces on it and the public laps it up. If you think I’m wrong, I honestly hope you are right about that.

Re Disunity is death: Stagnation of thought may not be a good slogan, but boy does it win elections.

Reply

Swaggie said :

So underwhelmed by these answers, I wanted to know what the candidates “think” not read what the official party line is and the answer to Q9 is a gloss over. I’ll be glad to see the back of Barr if he does get knocked out.

Mate, individual conscience died with the rise of Fusion. Then the last remaining elements were ground into the dust during the Howard Government.

Now people like myself who think that the Liberal Party should still honour individual conscience, are look on as dangerously naive. Rightfully so really, the public do not like diversity in Parties. Disunity is death, after all.

This is the Andrew Barr who on 28 Apr put out this press release floating the idea of moving Floriade.
http://www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/media.php?v=6712
At least three possible new locations were mentioned, Eastlake, the Arboretum or holding the event at multiple sites.
When he was asked for maps showing as close as possible these new locations being considered for Floriade, Andrew Barr could produce no maps.
Amaaaazing.
If I was involved in Floriade, I would be concerned at the prospect of a new Green-Labor Govt.

Unfortunately members of the respective parties aren’t encouraged, and probably actively discouraged, from expressing anything other than what’s sectioned by HQ.

Not probably. They’re definitely not allowed to. There will be ACT Labor responses to those questions (4,5,7,8,9) from all the Labor candidates.

Yeah I know that Cap. I think western style “Democracy” needs a radical overhaul. 🙂

Swaggie: it’s a byproduct of party politics. People expect some form of cohesion from a political party, an organisation where candidates come together for common beliefs and views. If everyone had their own views then we would see a strong field of independents. Unfortunately members of the respective parties aren’t encouraged, and probably actively discouraged, from expressing anything other than what’s sectioned by HQ.

At least this isn’t the US Presidential system where there is essentially zero chance of anyone other than a Republican or Democrat winning.

So underwhelmed by these answers, I wanted to know what the candidates “think” not read what the official party line is and the answer to Q9 is a gloss over. I’ll be glad to see the back of Barr if he does get knocked out.

I just noticed his response to the Public Art question “I support the provision of taxpayer funded and privately funded public art. I believe that it enhances our city”.

What prospect of RiotACT offering a piece of privately funded artwork to be placed somewhere in Our Fair City? I’d kick in a donation for that.

Provided we get a RiotACT donation plaque thingy too.

I think it would be a genuine shame if Barr got knocked out as the Crimes reckons might happen.