Draft Policy: Formation of Legislation and Governance

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Purpose:

To secure and preserve the life, liberty, and flourishing of the people of The Riverina.

Reason:

To ensure that governance of The Riverina is an expression of the will of its citizens, this being considered the most beneficial human constituent of good governance.

Delegation:

Subject to the Australian Constitution, the citizens of this State possess its highest authority. These delegate governance to their representatives in the various institutions decided to be necessary for good governance. This delegation is achieved by the citizen’s vote and election of their representatives.

Governance:

Governance shall consist of three separate entities:

The Legislative Assembly. This will propose, and with the consent of the Premier, form or repeal any desired legislation.

The Premier. Will consent to, or veto, legislation proposed by the Legislative Assembly, and will execute governance of the State.

The Judiciary. These will decide disputes in law.

Qualification:

To ensure that governance of The Riverina is directed toward the benefit of this State and its people, rather than being possibly directed toward the benefit of any other State or people, electors are to be residents of this State and Australian citizens. The members of the Legislative Assembly, the Premier, and the Judiciary are to be residents of this State, and to have been Australian citizens at birth, and to be Australian citizens during their term of governance.

Establishment:

The Legislative Assembly: Each member of the Legislative Assembly shall be elected by the people per electorate. This shall be for a term of 2 years. More HERE.

To ensure effective political representation throughout the State, and to prevent any insurmountable, and possibly detrimental, concentration of political representation in one small area of the State, each electorate shall consist of approximately 10,000 electors (plus or minus 5%) subject to each electorate being no larger than 10% of the area of the State, and subject to there being no more than 10 electorates in any 10% of the area of the State i.e. any 10% of the area of the State shall include no more than 10 electorates. In any 10% of the area of the State with 10 electorates, each of these electorates shall not exceed 20% of this area (or alternatively, no electorate is to be less than 1% of the area of the State). More HERE. And HERE.

The members of the Legislative Assembly will elect a Speaker to arrange the orderly business of the Assembly.

The Premier: The Premier will be elected by the people per electorate. Each electorate shall cast one preferential vote for the Premier. This shall be for a term of 4 years. More HERE. And HERE. And HERE. And HERE.

Dismissal: If three quarters or more of the members of the Legislative Assembly, or the Premier, desire a change of Members of the Legislative Assembly, or of the Premier, either of these may initiate a new election. To prevent possible misuse of this authority, this election shall be of all members of the Legislative Assembly, and of the Premier. The term of this election shall be for the remainder of the original term.

Term Limits:

To ensure that the insulation of public office from the difficulties of the people, and possible excessive self interest, and possible corruption, does not eventually diminishes the ability of the Legislative Assembly or the Premier to govern for the benefit of the people, the members of the Legislative Assemble shall be limited to a maximum of 8 years in the Assembly, and the Premier shall be limited to a maximum of 8 years in the Premiership, and these shall then stand aside to ensure that a more capable Member or Premier emerges. The term of the Premier or of the Member of the Legislative Assembly shall not affect each other i.e. an 8 year Member of the Legislative Assembly may stand for election as the Premier, and vice versa. More HERE. And HERE.

The Judiciary: The Judiciary shall consist of the members of a Supreme Court and of inferior Courts. These members shall be initially proposed by the Premier, and apon attaining the consent of at least two thirds of the members of the Legislative Assembly, shall be appointed. This term shall be until an age prescribed by the Premier and Legislative Assembly, or until two thirds or more of the members of the Legislative Assembly, with the consent of the Premier, decide that this term is to end.

Legislation:

Any prohibition or compulsion of the people, or any other affect of the State apon the People in this State, must be included in Legislation and publicly displayed.

To ensure that legislation represents the will of the people:

A bill i.e. proposed legislation, must be sponsored by 10% or more of the Members of the Legislative Assembly to be eligible for consideration by the Assembly.

This bill must be registered in a roster of bills being considered by the Legislative Assembly. The Assembly will consider bills in the order that they are registered.

All bills must be displayed publicly for at least one month, and remain on public display, for the consideration of the public and for consultation between the public and their representatives in the Legislative Assembly, before being considered by this Assembly.

The bill may not be amended after registration. If amendments are desired, the bill is to be withdrawn from registration by the original sponsors, or by the loss of enough original sponsors to no longer constitute 10% of the Legislative Assembly, and the amended bill registered as a new bill.

A bill must achieve the support by vote of two thirds or more of the entire Legislative Assembly to proceed. More HERE. Members may vote for, or against, the bill, or abstain from voting. An abstained vote shall be counted as a vote against the bill. A Member unable to attend the vote may appoint another Member to cast his or her vote. A bill that fails to achieve support by vote of two thirds of more of the members of the Legislative Assembly will not proceed, and will be considered defunct.

A bill achieving the votes of two thirds or more of the members of The Legislative Assembly will then proceed the Premier, who at any time within one month of reception will inform the Legislative Assembly whether he or she assents. The Premier may inform the Members of the reason for this decision. If the Premier makes no decision within one month, the bill will automatically succeed.

If, apon being informed of the bill’s rejection by the Premier, the Speaker may within one month register this bill for re-consideration by the Legislative Assembly at its current or next assembly.  If the Legislative Assembly does not reconsider the bill, it will be considered defunct. If upon reconsideration this bill achieves three quarters or more of the votes of the entire Legislative Assembly, this bill will become legislation without the consent of the Premier. If not, this bill will be considered defunct.

A bill that has received the assent of the Premier, or if has achieved three quarters or more of the votes of the entire Legislative Assembly after rejection by the Premier, shall be publicly proclaimed by the Speaker at a time of the Speaker’s choosing. To allow for possible public adjustment, the bill will become legislation one month after this proclamation.

Electors may initiate bills by presenting a petition, including the bill, and the signatures of at least 2% of the State’s electors, to the Speaker of Legislative Assembly. These bills may proceed to legislation in the same way as those proposed by members of the Legislative Assembly, or may be subjected to electors in the next State election. A bill achieving a majority of votes in a majority of electorates, and a majority of all votes in the State, shall become legislation.

Disputes:

The Supreme Court and its inferior courts shall decide any disputed lawfulness of any action within this State.

A decision of the Supreme Court may be nullified within one year by the decision of three quarters or more of the members of the Legislative Assembly, and with the consent of the Premier.

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