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| How can a woman be expected to be happy with a man who insists on treating her as if she were a perfectly normal human being. - Oscar Wilde |
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| Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. - Albert Einstein |
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| Education: that which reveals to the wise, and conceals from the stupid, the vast limits of their knowledge. - Mark Twain |
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| I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him. - Mark Twain |
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| Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence. - Albert Einstein |
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| Saturday, March 04, 2006 |
| I love a sunlit country.......... |
I'm disturbed by the lack of qualifications required to become a politician. Two politicians - one Labour, One Liberal have been polling in a neighbouring electorate in the lead up to the State Election. The results of their polls were published in our local rag.
One of the questions they were both polling was:
Whether or not Judges should be elected.
It would be nice if these people had read the constitution, particularly section 61 which deals with separation of powers. This would help these people to understand that regardless of whether individuals 'think' that judges should or shouldn't be elected - it ain't gonna happen without a referendum - and historically the chances of getting this to happen is not good (of the past 44 attempts to change the constitution, only 7 have been passed at referendum. info here)
High Court justices are appointed by vote of the existing High Court Justices. Lower level court Magistrates at both State & Federal level are appointed by the Courts with final say by existing Magistrates.
Historically magistrates in the lower courts were public servants. However this was challenged due to the separation of powers (legislature from judiciary) and they are now required to be barristers who apply and are appointed by the Justices. For more information see this article by High Court Justice Murray Gleeson.
I think there are far better things that politicians can poll on: education, aged care, taxes, roads, the high cost of petrol, the environment........etc all of which *they* could do something about. But to poll on something this ridiculous drives me insane (it was a short trip).
So, I rang my local member and asked her about 'election of judges' to which her response was 'you can't elect judges because of the constitution and separation of powers' and offered to send me some information.
*sigh* some small measure of hope has been restored. |
posted by Blue @ 7:41 pm  |
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| 4 Comments: |
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At least your local member knows what she is about, at least as far as the constitution goes.
An interesting technique to mess with the mind of politicians, telemarketers and the like is to change the script. The next time one of these folks begins questioning you about a specific topic, have a list of questions of your own.
For the politician, you might ask about his/her views about the constitution. Or, better yet, something completely different, like "What are your plans for mending the roads, etc."?
Just a thought. Keep up your good works.
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Wow Blue. Good information there for us in the future. Scary to think that the pollies think electing judges is a major thought in the voters conscious. So many other things to be involved with and so little time and they bring up this furphy.
I can see your frustration and hope they get back on track before polling day. South Aussie is always so far ahead of the rest of us re logical, sensible priorities.
Good luck
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Hey BlueBolt:
Was there any information given as to the reasons they were doing these polls? You would think that in the lead up to an election that they would only do things that they feel will benefit them.
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Oz,
Nope - just political grandstanding I guess - the liberal started it & then the labour guy was doing it cause the liberal guy was....
Story of Australian politics really.
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At least your local member knows what she is about, at least as far as the constitution goes.
An interesting technique to mess with the mind of politicians, telemarketers and the like is to change the script. The next time one of these folks begins questioning you about a specific topic, have a list of questions of your own.
For the politician, you might ask about his/her views about the constitution. Or, better yet, something completely different, like "What are your plans for mending the roads, etc."?
Just a thought. Keep up your good works.