Time To Rid Ourselves of Petulant Crossbenchers

Crossbench senator Glenn Lazarus has hit out at Malcolm Turnbull's "nasty" Government, saying he will snub a dinner invite to The Lodge in protest against Senate reforms aimed at disenfranchising the "common man". 

The snubbing of the PM's dinner invitation by some of the crossbenchers highlights two things for me. Let's face it, Lazarus has history when it comes to refusing to meet with the Government to discuss issues. I could say the ‘block-head’ reference applies to more than just his physical appearance because his behaviour is certainly ‘block-head’ behaviour. But I digress, so back to the point. 

Firstly, what an immature, ignorant bunch of petulant twits some of the cross-benchers are. From where I sit, it highlights why with that mentality they simply shouldn't be in charge of voting on laws that impact on our lives. 

Secondly, it's proof positive (at least for me) that their reactions to the proposed Senate reforms which gives us the right to decide on where our preferences go smacks of self-interest and denial of our rights. Most of the crossbenchers in the Senate got there because of backroom deals which is not democratic in my opinion. 

There is no guarantee, with new legislation in place that we won't end up with sub-standard representatives in the senate. You only have to cast your eye across the major parties to see a sprinkling of less than desirable seat dwellers. But, at least within the major parties there are others to pull the seat dwellers into line. The same doesn’t apply to independents who often hold the balance of power. We have witnessed time and again the chaos some of the crossbenchers have created under the existing Parliament.  If under the new law we do end up with sub-standard independents and micros we will only have ourselves to blame. We will have put them there not some wheeler-dealer doing dodgy deals in secret. 

I have read some comments from people who are concerned because in their opinion the 'real people' won't stand a chance of getting into Parliament. I don't agree with that thinking. Nothing stops people from nominating. Nothing stops us from voting for them. If they get a seat, it will be because a core of people supports them which to me is democratic. It also means that someone who got less than 400 votes and was assisted by backroom deals, will never be elected again and that can't be a bad thing.  

I can't wait to see the back of people like Lazarus, Lambie and I’ll put Leyonhejlm (given some of his idiotic comments) in that bucket as well. I’m praying like mad that the legislation passes, that Turnbull calls a double-dissolution and that we wipe the slate clean and chuck the rubbish out. 

They say everyone has a breaking point and I've reached mine. I'm over the dummy spits, the grandstanding, the blackmail and the lack of intelligent debate and decision making. Time to lift the IQ of the Parliament above that of the footy field (due respect to footy players) and the schoolyard. 

34 Disgraceful Senators

I find it almost inconceivable, given the evidence that has emerged during sittings of the Royal Commission (not yet concluded) of misuse of union funds, dirty deals with companies (including those done by the leader of the opposition) that a bill to place tighter scrutiny over unions would be rejected. 

Last night the Senate voted down for the second time, the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Bill. The coalition wants to set up a Registered Organisation’s Commission to regulate unions. Naturally, Labor has been fighting against the move. Although given what we are hearing about union corruption, you would think the so called 'workers' party' would be in favour. But I guess they who provide the money calls the shots.    

The bill seeks to impose the same disclosure and transparency obligations on union officials as company directors. I would think, given the millions of hard earned dollars contributed to union coffers by some of our lowest paid workers this would be a good thing.

The bill would have delivered an increase in  civil penalties and to introduce criminal penalties for union leaders involved in fraud. Why would that not be welcomed by our so called law makers in the senate? Labor members aside. 

If a company director is convicted of corruption, he faces a fine of $360,000 or five years imprisonment for ripping off shareholders. Yet union officials who can rip off hundreds of thousands of dollars from a union, is only liable for a fine if $10,800. 

The bill was defeated 34 to 33. These so called independents, self appointed champions of the 'underdog' Lambie, Muir & Lazarus voted with Labor and the Greens to defeat the bill.  Shame on you. 

If you really want to increase your anger and disgust I suggest you read Hansard. But I will leave you with Lambie’s closing comment. 

“In closing, I oppose the legislation before the house because it is ideologically motivated, unfair, and irrational and undermines the basic civil liberties and rights of Australian workers, while ignoring tens of billions of dollars in fraud, tax evasion and crime in the banking, finance, medical and other industries where multinationals have great influence.”