Hi Marcus. I've got a request for information for you ... I recently read in the
newspaper here that there's some controversy in NZ because an MP elected for one party
has defected to another. It's apparently particularly controversial because she was
elected for a list seat, not for a local electorate. Thus there have been calls for
her to resign as a matter of conscience, or for the law to be changed so that in such
cases MPs have to vacate automatically.
Unfortunately I forgot to bring the relevant clipping to Brisbane with me, but I'm
assuming that you'll know the case I'm talking about. I'm thinking of writing a piece
(either academic, or maybe just journalistic) likening this case with the situation of
Senator Colston in Australia, and with provisions in a number of "Third World"/
developing nation Consitutions (India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and now South Africa)
which provide for automatic unseatment of MPs who defect from their party or are
expelled.
Any ifnormation - news reports, even just discussions you've heard yourself - that
you could, at your convenience, forward to me, would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Tom
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Overflow-Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ('Geoff Powell'),
[EMAIL PROTECTED] ('Andrew Freeman'),
[EMAIL PROTECTED] ('Bogey M (gov)'),
[EMAIL PROTECTED] (crabb.deane),
[EMAIL PROTECTED] ('Martin Dunn'),
[EMAIL PROTECTED] ('Election methods'),
[EMAIL PROTECTED] ('Electoral Reform Soc of GB & NI'),
[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Graeme Orr),
[EMAIL PROTECTED] ('Powell, Geoffrey'),
[EMAIL PROTECTED] ('Geoff Goode (SMTP)'),
[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Goode, Geoff),
[EMAIL PROTECTED] ('John Webber'),
[EMAIL PROTECTED] ('I.D.E.A'),
[EMAIL PROTECTED] (John Pyke, QUT Law School),
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[EMAIL PROTECTED] ('Martin Willis'),
[EMAIL PROTECTED] ('Matthew Townsend'),
[EMAIL PROTECTED] ('Hank van Leeuwen')
