from today's (Sat. 2/1/99) Advertiser
"Support is growing among frustrated Liberal MPs for reforms to the Upper
House of State Parliament that would decimate the power of the Australian
Democrats and No Pokies' MLC Mr. Nick Xenophon."
"Under the plan - to reduce the number of Legislative Councillors from 22 to
18 and divide the State into broad Upper House "electorates" - Independent
candidates would be doomed and the Democrats reduced to a maximum of one."
....
"The Liberals' State director Mr. Jim Bonner, said the level of exasperation
with the Upper House was understandably high. 'When you start seeing
Xenophons popping up and being an expert on everything, you have to wonder
what the electorate wants,' he said."
" 'I mean, have they really thought it through when they vote for these
people?' "
.....
" Mr. Redford (a Liberal Legislative Councillor) said a referendum was not
necessary to implement the changes."
" The Opposition Leader, Mr. Rann, signalled he would be prepared to examine
the model. 'At the last election, I suggested that we reduce the number of
politicians in the Upper House,' he said."
....
"Mr. Xenophon said the plan would threaten open government. 'I'm all for
robust public debate on the role of the Upper House, but I think people need
to realise that this would effectively entrench the two major parties at the
expense of alternative views,' he said."
Explanatory note: Xenophon has recently blocked the governments planned sale
of ETSA (Electricity Trust).
-- Bill Kerr
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