Presiding officership is not your conventional industry. It is loaded with danger, physical and financial, and comes with a hint of conspiracy. The role of the Presiding Officer is wide ranging. The role most often associated with the position is the chairing of meetings of the Parliament. However there is so much more, especially in legislatures dominated by the executives. Above all however, and at least in theory, the position means being politically impartial, taking the interests of all Members equally into account and acting on their behalf. Ken Coghill, former Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, looks at the role of the speaker (or president) during question time, citing two particular cases from 1991 and 2004. He suggests the independence of, and respect given to, presiding officers needs to be enhanced. The roles of the presiding officer and prime minister or premier are critical in achieving this. The speaker rules
Eye on Politics & Law Lords: Audit Values
Marian Sawer considers the two principles inspiring the international democratic audit framework: popular control over decision-making; and political equality in the exercise of that control.
There are good reasons to add two others – human rights/civil liberties and deliberative democracy – to highlight the tensions experienced in many western democracies with the rise of populism. Majoritarian interpretations of popular control and political equality are competing with other values associated with representative democracies, as seen in the recent Norwegian audit.
• Reflecting the complexity of representative democracy [via Democratic Audit: Australian Political Parties in the Spotlight ; In the worst weekend on the NSW coast this summer, five people died after getting into trouble in the ocean and hundreds had to be rescued because of treacherous surf conditions ]
• · A fundamental truth about the ALP is that it has an overriding ability to become consumed with the spoils of patronage, factions and internal power and distracted from the first task of all political parties putting forward a viable program for government with a viable team of candidates (MP's and Ministers) to implement that program. Beazley and the Sussex St Bruvvers; [I fear a moment of injustice, for some a moment of revenge Polish journalist has distributed a list of 240 000 names from the records of the communist-era's secret service ; Communist Ghosts Haunt Leaders ; Former anti-corruption chief Satek presided over the most sensitive cases; he is no longer a member of Interior Minister Palko's top team. Satek handled corruption cases in top political circles. According to Palko, Satek failed in his responsibilities and created conflicts in the workplace. He said that Satek brought "intrigue" to police proceedings (smile). Although Palko acknowledged that 49-year-old Satek was a highly skilled police officer, the minister said Satek had tendencies to get involved in behind-the-scenes moves. (Aha...) In July 2004, Satek's bureau started investigating the allegations of vote buying in parliament. The opposition suspected that the ruling coalition, after losing its majority in parliament, managed to pass laws through parliament by engaging in unfair political bargaining with independent MPs. Intrigued? ]
• · · Charging children under 10 with criminal offences or locking them up is not the answer, says Premier Bob Carr: The last thing you want with youngsters ... is to hurl them into a detention centre where their worst behavioural instincts are going to be confirmed for all time Youngsters ; NSW Premier Bob Carr today refused to comment on speculation high-profile Labor MP Joe Tripodi will be the newest member of his cabinet. No Comment; [Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister are quoted in some textbooks on politics as a way of understanding how the country is run. Most efficient hospitals are without the patients. So why is the Minister obsessed with the fact that the hospital has no patients? Deadly hospital mistakes set to rise: minister ; The Compassionate Society: People do not want to know how welfare money has actually been spent. Nobody asks the priest what happen to the ritual offering after the ceremony. Why should we close a hospital because it has no patients? We don't disband the Army just because there isn't a war...; According to Sydney Magazine of SMH creation Morris Iemma is someone to watch Anne Davis Morris who? ; Long Live the New Kingmaker ]
• · · · Bribes, brown paper bags and offshore bank accounts are set to feature when the ICAC opens its public hearings. Former Strathfield mayor Alfred Tsang today admitted it appeared on a video that he accepted a deal that would result in him getting a $200,000 bribe. Mr King said former mayor John Abi-Saab secretly knew about the video footage and had used it to convince Mr Tsang to step aside to gain the position for himself ; Google of Tsang; Machiavellian power struggle ... fuelled by ambition and greed and carried forward by deceit and dishonesty]
• · · · · Police are investigating death threats against two senior officials at Baulkham Hills Shire Council, according to a scathing departmental report that also alleges councillors had continually bullied council staff. Parliamentarians and Councillors tend to intimidate staff ; Carr: Call to cut MPs more slack on contempt ; [Labor controls all state parliaments, but the relentless electoral windmill is still turning. Bruce Hawker, managing director of the political and government relations consultancy Hawker Britton, has been involved in every state and federal election for the ALP since 1997. He acknowledges that Gallop's position is statistically "grim" but insists he has a fighting chance ; Bruce Hawker's role in the inner sanctums of Labor makes him good talent for Sally to have on the show - but only if she tells her listeners every time who this man is, and where he's coming from. She doesn't Spin doctors keep spinning ; The International Association of Political Consultants ]
• · · · · · Slovak daily newspaper SME will have an on-line chat with president Ivan Gasparovic next week. Now, that is what I call the people's president. Talk To The President (via Daily Czech)
