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| 'We Call it Democracy | |
Phil (Amnesty-wants-to-kick-me-out) Ruddock has failed in his attempt to have
all of Australia's northern islands excised from the migration zone.
The 'Tampa' legislation passed by the ALP in a panic just before the last
election allowed for changes to the zone to be made by regulation (without
parliament), but for either house of parliament to overturn any such changes.
This afternoon the Senate overturned it. However (I-haven't-had-my) Phil is planning to introduce the same excisions in
legislation, even though they face certain defeat in the Liberal-hostile and
asylum-seeker-friendly Senate. Why? Why do something that is bound to fail? Why fight a battle you cannot win?
Because Liberal has their eyes on the bigger picture. The legislation must
fail. It can only pass by a change of heart by the ALP, which would then look
even more divided and uncertain on this issue than they already do. But the failed legislation will be also a useful double-dissolution
trigger. They already a double dissolution trigger (with the pharmaceutical
benefits scheme), but that doesn't have enough public support to route the ALP.
The failed excision legislation (if it fails repeatedly) can sit there and can
be used to call a snap election. Picture the following scenario:
The new excision legislation fails three times, and just sits there.
A large boat-load, designed to make it all the way to Australia makes it to
one of the non-excised islands.
Australia has a Tampa-like situation all over again. Australia is gripped
by nationalism and fear of the tip-of-the-iceberg invasion.
Anger at the ALP for not passing the legislation is a fever pitch. The ALP
is seen to have created the problem.
The Liberals suddenly discover the lost piece of legislation and say 'we
need a decision' and call a snap election of both houses of parliament.
The voter backlash against the ALP is brutal and decisive
With the ALP routed, Liberal gains control of both houses of parliament.
Unlike Malcolm (born-again-humanitarian) Fraser, who did nothing with this
power, Liberal use it.
Industrial relations in this country will never look the same. Simon (Cream-of-the-) Crean should have seen this one coming, but he can't think more than one
move ahead with the Liberal party controlling the agenda. The Liberal party
leadership are masters at the dissolution maneuver - right back to 1975. This is getting to be a bit like world-championship wrestling. Lost of
posturing, but the results are not decided in the ring.
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