If this is not a reason for giving the States in the Senate, the - TopicsExpress



          

If this is not a reason for giving the States in the Senate, the House where they have equal representation, some means of exercising a wholesome check in regard to Money Bills, I do not know what more cogent reason could be given. One honorable gentleman-I think it was the honorable member, Mr. Barton-pointed out that this is the form of responsible government we must have, if we are to have responsible government, and the Executive responsible to one House. Undoubtedly, our desire is for a form of responsible government, and those who represent the smaller States want the Executive to be responsible, but we do not want this to mean responsibility to the colonies of New South Wales and Victoria. Willing as we are to come into the Federation, with the miserably small number of members in the Lower House, we have the mandate from the people who elected us to this Convention, in no uncertain sound, that all the colonies wish for Federation and not absorption. But, according to the views expressed in this Convention, it means that the smaller colonies will be absorbed by New South Wales and Victoria, not that these two colonies will in any way combine, but we have to consider that, in the event of these two colonies sinking their differences in regard to any questions of finance, they would absolutely rule the whole of Federated Australia, and handle the money contributed by the taxpayers as they pleased. As to the power given to the Senate to veto Money Bills,. those gentlemen who are older politicians than myself know perfectly well that this is a power that really amounts to having no power at all.
Posted on: Wed, 04 Jun 2014 06:45:09 +0000

Trending Topics



Recently Viewed Topics




© 2015