A referendum for a more direct democracy in our system of government

Eligibility - Queensland citizens
Principal Petitioner:
Bruce Vaschina
7 Hylacola Drive
ALBANY CREEK QLD 4035
Total Signatures - 5
Sponsoring Member: The Clerk of the Parliament
Posting Date: 26/3/2015
Tabled Date: 26/3/2015
Responded By: Hon Yvette D'Ath MP on 27/4/2015
TO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland

The petition of citizens of the Queensland draws to the attention of the House that ordinary citizens, apart from the opportunity provided in general elections, have extremely limited ability to seriously influence government decision making, or address situations where their elected representatives do not behave in as honourable a manner as the community rightly expects of them. We find this to be an unacceptable imbalance in the power of the people versus that of politicians in a democratic society.

 

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to initiate a referendum giving the people the option of introducing any or all of the following mechanisms for more direct democracy in our system of government:

  • Full recall election petitions (where a general election is called early upon the sovereign wishes of a sufficient number of electors)
  • Individual recall election petitions (where a by-election for the particular electoral division is called based on the sovereign wishes of a sufficient number of electors in that division)
  • Citizens initiated referenda

Given such democratic safeguards, your petitioners would also see value in implementing longer electoral terms between general elections to give respected, responsive governments, a more suitable length of time to implement strategic programs for the improvement of the social and economic life of their jurisdiction.