Senate Commentary
After the Federal election in 2004, when it was clear that the Government would have control of the Senate, John Howard said:
"I want to assure the Australian people that the Government will use its majority in the new Senate very carefully, very wisely and not provocatively."
Were they hollow assurances? I think they were, and so do respected political pundits.
All Australians should be concerned about the Government's arrogance in the Senate.
Harder to Keep Howard's Own Honest
Has the Senate been compromised as a House of checks and balances since Howard won control.
Read why Daniel Tynan and George Williams regret the demise of a valuable check-and-balance function of the Senate, from The Australian Financial Review, 02/10/2006.
Gutted House, Broken System - The Goverment's Senate changes reek of arrogance
The Howard Government has gone power crazy.
Read what Steve Lewis, writing in The Australian, General News, on 27/06/2006 has to say.
Howard's Powerhouse Chipping Away at the Senate's Powers as a House of Review
Howard's powerhouse chipping away at the Senate's powers as a house of review is part of the Prime Minister's patient strategy for total control
Read what David Humphries, writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, on 24/06/2006 has to say.
Accountability's Loss - Australians will be the clear losers in a gutted Senate
Editorial, The Australian Newspaper, 22/06/2006
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Accountability's Loss - Australians will be the clear losers in a gutted Senate - 43 KbytesMajorities aside, the Senate is still a house with a mind of its own
A year on, and John Howard's changed to Senate process have not gone unnoticed.
Read what Michelle Grattan, writing in the Age, General News, on 21/06/2006 has to say.
