December 09, 2004

Horse 249 - Theft by "Mandate" 2

All the way back in Horse 232 I warned you all of the impending sale of Telstra. The bill went before the house today and was agreed that division would be taken on May 9 2005. This date is important.

On May 9 2005, the Senate changes hands from the existing members to the members voted for in the Federal Election just passed. The Liberal Party will have an absolute majority in both houses without reliance from this date.

Now usually when a bill passes through parliament, it has the opportunity to be amended 3 times in that form before it's either rejected or passed on. On May 9 when the bill goes before the Reps, owing to the Liberal Parties majority, it will pass unopposed. Then the process will be repeated in the Senate and possibly that afternoon. I expect that the Act will finalised by the end of the week which would be ample time for the final sale to occur on the opening day of the financial year 2005/6.

It's not a case of will they or won't they, but from May 9 the Liberal Party will have complete control of both houses and thus any single piece of wacky legislation they propose can pass through on the nose. Sale of Telstra is just one small part.

This is without my permission as a taxpayer and of the 63% of all voters who didn't place the Liberals as number one preference. That's democracy for you. THEFT BY MANDATE.

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