The first in a Sunday series on National radio on the basics of our constitutional review
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/lecturesandforums/constitutional-review
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Monday, 15 April 2013
Sunday, 14 April 2013
Helen takes exception to the draft Constitution Title
What does everyone else think ? Is having the word "Aotearoa" in or out of the Constitution a dealbreaker for many people ? Would reading it stop you reading any further ?
I
have only got to the cover page of your Constitution but before I read any
further I take issue with calling our country Aotearoa/New Zealand. We
are New Zealand and any change to our country’s name should only be by
referendum. Slowly Aotearoa is creeping in as part of our country’s name,
when it isn’t. Before we know it the New Zealand part will be dropped and
we will just be called Aotearoa and this must never happen without a
referendum. I will personally oppose it strongly whenever it comes
up. We are New Zealand and its people are New Zealanders first and
foremost. Next thing we will be called Aotearoans or something equally
ridiculous.
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Saturday, 13 April 2013
New Zealand Constitution - draft
https://www.box.com/shared/qb3r03dwk355rrlxpay9
Special thanks to Steve Baron & Dominic baron for many hours put into devising this demonstration Constitution for New Zealand . They believe a Constitution must grow organically & be a true initiative of the people of New Zealand , rather than of the existing parliament & political parties who are too influenced by the dsire to protect their power .
Read more...
Special thanks to Steve Baron & Dominic baron for many hours put into devising this demonstration Constitution for New Zealand . They believe a Constitution must grow organically & be a true initiative of the people of New Zealand , rather than of the existing parliament & political parties who are too influenced by the dsire to protect their power .
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Thursday, 11 April 2013
Australian Citizen Initiated Referendum Bill 2013
Submissions being sought NOW !
Could this bill provide an example for New Zealand ?
The reasons for the referral are for the Committee to consider [ & seek public submission ]
1. Citizens' Initiated Referendum (CIR) promotes greater openness and accountability in public decision-making.
2. Laws instituted as a result of a CIR are more clearly derived from the popular expression of the people's will.
3. Government authority flows from the people and is based upon their consent.
4. Citizens in a democracy have the responsibility to participate in the political system.
5. The Inter Parliamentary Union's call on member states to strengthen democracy through constitutional instruments including the citizen's right to initiate legislation.
Citizen Initiated referendum Bill 2013
Read more...
Could this bill provide an example for New Zealand ?
The reasons for the referral are for the Committee to consider [ & seek public submission ]
1. Citizens' Initiated Referendum (CIR) promotes greater openness and accountability in public decision-making.
2. Laws instituted as a result of a CIR are more clearly derived from the popular expression of the people's will.
3. Government authority flows from the people and is based upon their consent.
4. Citizens in a democracy have the responsibility to participate in the political system.
5. The Inter Parliamentary Union's call on member states to strengthen democracy through constitutional instruments including the citizen's right to initiate legislation.
Citizen Initiated referendum Bill 2013
Read more...
Thursday, 21 March 2013
Australian Senate Bill for Citizens Initiated Referenda
YOUR opportunity to make a submission - see below
-------- Original message --------
From: Ronald Evans <President@CIR-Australia.net>
Date: 20/03/2013 18:26 (GMT+10:00)
To: Evans Ronald <President@CIR-Australia.net>
Subject: Inquiry into Citizen Initiated Referendum Bill 2013
Behold, I bring glad tidings. Please see below.
From: Ronald Evans <President@CIR-Australia.net>
Date: 20/03/2013 18:26 (GMT+10:00)
To: Evans Ronald <President@CIR-Australia.net>
Subject: Inquiry into Citizen Initiated Referendum Bill 2013
Behold, I bring glad tidings. Please see below.
Ladies
& Gentlemen, this is a once in a lifetime chance to get Citizens' Initiated
Referendums (CIR) so please do whatever you can to express your support. You
could send a very brief statement to the committee merely saying that you
support this proposal. Just one page, not many minutes of your time, please.
You might also send an email to your federal MP and as many of your Senators as
you think fit. A few paragraphs, that's all; please. (Remember, it
is always best when writing to a legislator to make clear that you are one of
their constituents.)
You
may be assured that the the committee of CIR Australia will be making detailed
submissions to the inquiry and will be doing everything possible to support
this initiative from Senator Madigan.
To
the barricades citizens!
Ronald
Evans
President
CIR Australia
THE SENATE
STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION
Legislation Committee
20 March
2013
Mr
Ronald Evans
President
Citizens
Initiated Referendum- Australia
PO Box
3034
Norwood
SA 5067
Dear Mr Evans
Inquiry into Citizen Initiated Referendum Bill 2013
On 14 March 2013, the
Senate, on the recommendation of the Selection of Bills Committee, referred the
Citizen Initiated Referendum Bill 2013 to the Finance and Public Administration
Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 24 June 2013.
In undertaking the inquiry,
the Committee is to consider:
1. Citizens' Initiated
Referendum (CIR) promotes greater openness and accountability in public
decision-making.
2. Laws instituted as a result
of a CIR are more clearly derived from the popular expression of the people's
will.
3. Government authority flows
from the people and is based upon their consent.
4. Citizens in a democracy have
the responsibility to participate in the political system.
5. The
Inter Parliamentary Union's call on member states to strengthen democracy
through constitutional instruments including the citizen's right to initiate
legislation.
The Bill may be accessed
via the link: http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Fbillhome%2Fs900%22
The Committee invites you
to provide a written submission addressing issues that may be of relevance to
you. The submission should be lodged by 19 April 2013. The Committee
prefers to receive submissions online as an attached document through the
Committee's website via the Upload Submission Online link https://senate.aph.gov.au/submissions/pages/logon.aspx.
Alternatively, submissions may be emailed as an attached document to fpa.sen@aph.gov.au or mailed to the
address below.
Submissions become Committee documents and are made
public only after a decision by the Committee. Publication of submissions
includes loading them onto the internet and making them available to other
interested parties including the media. Please indicate if you wish the
Committee to consider keeping your submission, or part thereof, confidential.
Any person or organisation making a submission must not
release it without the approval of the Committee. Submissions are covered by
parliamentary privilege, however the unauthorised release of a submission is
not protected.
Information relating to Senate committee inquiries,
including notes to assist in the preparation of submissions for a committee,
can be located on the Internet at http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/wit_sub/index.htm
The
Committee will consider all submissions, and may invite individuals and
organisations to give evidence at a public hearing.
Should you
require further information, please contact the Committee Secretariat on
(02) 6277 3530.
Yours sincerely
Christine McDonald
Secretary
Begin
forwarded message:
From: "Committee, FPA (SEN)" <FPA.SEN@aph.gov.au>
Subject:
Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee- Inquiry
into Citizen Initiated Referendum Bill 2013
Date:
11:00:50 AM ACDT
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Tuesday, 5 March 2013
Saturday, 2 February 2013
Saturday, 26 January 2013
More than eight voters out of ten want the right to sack their own MP
"Radical changes to the political system are overwhelmingly backed by voters after an expenses scandal
that has damaged all parties" (1)
"Eighty-two per cent (want) a system of “recalling” MPs (....) if they have broken the rules" Source: Survey for The Times (1).
Before the general election, knowing that many voters are dissatisfied with politicians and how government is run, the parties all promised effective reforms. After the victory of Conservatives and Liberal Democrats in 2010, the coalition agreement was published. This contains the following statement:
"We will bring forward early legislation to introduce a power of recall, allowing voters to force a by-election where an MP is found to have engaged in serious wrongdoing and having had a petition calling for a by-election signed by l0% of his or her constituents."
COALITION HAS FAILED TO INTRODUCE THE RECALL SYSTEM!
A recall bill was put before Parliament but the proposed procedure for sacking an MP was so bad that it was heavily criticised by experts from across the political spectrum. The recall bill was dropped. Private members (MPs) also presented proposals for recall but these failed to gain support. In late 2010 there are no bills or proposals about recall to be found at Parliament's web site.
When will the coalition government obey the will of the people by enabling we constituents to remove an MP who is corrupt or has performed badly?
If HM government is too incompetent to legislate on this, then give us the job. Hold a binding referendum to introduce the "recall". And let's add in a "piggy back" ballot proposal to give ourselves the right to obtain a referendum about any public issue (very useful if gov. "forgets" something important).
-------------------------------
1. Poll suggests voters want radical reform of Parliament, The Times May 30, 2009 Philip Webster, Political Editor.
2. The Coalition: our programme for government. Freedom, fairness, responsibility. David Cameron and Nick Clegg for HM government 2010
--------------------------------------------------
Campaign for direct democracy in Britain
Citizens' Initiative and Referendum I&R ~ GB
http://www.iniref.org/ Link to site index
http://www.iniref.org/recall.html The Recall: How it works
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Thursday, 17 January 2013
Thursday, 20 December 2012
BCIR helps you sleep better !
We all need "tools" of direct democracy like this.
Governments of the city-state of Berlin and its neighbour-Land Brandenburg aim to respond to increased air traffic by building greater airport capacity. Inner-city airports have either been closed down (Tempelhof) or are scheduled to close soon (Tegel). To compensate, a plan has been launched to expand an airport on the south-east city boundary, Schoenefeld (to be known as "Willy Brandt" airport). People living around this airport are resigned to the fact that air traffic will increase but they want to limit the nuisance of noise and pollution. So, there is a movement to limit night flights.
The Land Brandenburg and the city-state of Berlin are each federal states with their own government. In both Lands, citizen campaigns have exploited the RIGHT TO DIRECT DEMOCRACY in attempts to bring in law which would limit night flying.
In Brandenburg, early December 2012, a "Volksbegehren" (people's wish, a legal demand for a referendum like a citizens' initiative) to limit night flights jumped an important hurdle. To trigger a referendum, a citizens' proposal must be endorsed by at least eighty thousand voters. This hurdle was easily jumped after more than 106,000 people signed up. Brandenburg's population is about 2.5 million.
According to the law, the proposal (to limit night flights) must be debated in the Land's parliament in Potsdam. Parliament may agree to make the proposal into law. If parliament rejects the citizens' proposal then a ballot (referendum, Volksentscheid) of all Brandenburg's citizens must be held to decide the matter.
----------------
Direct Democracy Regulations in Land Brandenburg, Federal Republic of Germany.
Hurdle to instigate referendum: 4 percent.
Time allowed to collect endorsements: 4 months (only in government offices, collection in public places not allowed).
Referendum quorum: One quarter of all voters must agree with a proposal to make or change law. Higher hurdles have been set for matters of constitution.
-----------------
Campaign for direct democracy in Britain
I&R ~ GB Citizens' Initiative and Referendum
http://www.iniref.org/ Link to site index
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