Bulletin

Issue: April 2004

News

Latham at La Trobe

Federal Opposition Leader, Mark Latham, gave La Trobe University a political first during a La Trobe Politics Society lecture to a large audience at the Melbourne (Bundoora) campus on 19 March.

It was the first time he had announced a major policy initiative on a university campus.

Addressing a 'full house' in the 460 seat Agora Theatre and an additional overflow audience of about 250 in the adjoining Agora Cinema, Mr Latham announced that if elected, Labor would reform the Freedom of Information Act to make it more open and democratic.

'We want the legislation to reflect a pro-disclosure culture - that all government information should be made available unless its release can cause substantial public harm,' he said.

'Labor would insert a clause into the Act ensuring that 'embarrassment to the Government' cannot be used as a reason for withholding information. As ever, the public has got the right to know,' he said.

The outline of the new initiative came when he expounded four measures to 'give the Australian people access to the political system - and good reason to trust it.'

The four measures were more open government, higher ethical standards, greater public participation and comprehensive parliamentary reform. Reform of the Freedom of Information legislation came under the first initiative.

He said that too often institutions like Parliament acted like a club, the insiders looking after each others' interests, leaving the public outside, disenfranchised and disillusioned.

Speaking about ethical standards, Mr Latham said a good starting point was austerity in office, bringing parliamentary entitlements closer to community standards.

'I believe Members of Parliament should have a clear affinity with the constituency they represent. This is why I have taken action to close the parliamentary superannuation scheme and cap the superannuation entitlements of existing senior office holders in Parliament.'

Addressing ways of introducing greater public participation, Mr Latham said he wanted to return to the traditional 'Town Hall' style of meetings where citizens can come along and had their say.

'In government we will hold regular 'Community Cabinet' meetings and forums - a chance for Ministers and senior bureaucrats to get out of Canberra and talk to people in the suburbs and regions face-to-face. It is remarkable how easily governments, seduced by interest group politics and the isolation of Parliament House, can get out of touch.'

Mr Latham said he saw the issue of an Australian republic as not just a question of constitutional independence but as a way of broadening democracy - the essence of republicanism itself. 'This is why Labor will hold a series of plebiscites, direct voting to involve the Australian people at every stage of the process.'

He asked: 'Do we want to become a republic and if so, by which constitutional model? Only when the people have determined these matters would a formal referendum be held'.

On questions of parliamentary reform, he said a starting point would be the appointment of an independent Speaker along the lines of the British House of Commons in which the Speaker's role was rotated between the major parties. While in the Chair, Speakers renounced their political allegiance.

He also promised to reform Question Time in Parliament by limiting questions without notice to one minute and answers to four minutes, eliminating the asking of 'Dorothy Dixers' and re-allowing supplementary questions.

Politics Society convenor, Mr Leighton Vivian, introduced Mr Latham. La Trobe University Professor of Politics and political and social commentator, Robert Manne, chaired a question and answer session after the speech.

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