Confessions of a Misguided Trio

Interesting Times in the Capital

In about two hours time the Leader of the House for the Australian Parliament Tony Abbott is expected to guillotine debate on the Migration Amedment Bill 2006 and call for a vote. The speeches being made throughout debate have been a fascinating affair, with four government MP's likely to cross the floor and vote with the opposition against the bill.

From The Australian:
'...While it will pass the lower house, the bill faces a more difficult test in the Senate. The Government will have to quell the backbench revolt - or face an embarrassing defeat.
The split in the Coalition comes just 14 months after Mr Howard quelled a revolt from the same group of moderates by agreeing to house children of asylum-seekers in community detention.
The moderates fear the bill introduced yesterday reverses the gains of 2005 and they are concerned the policy is designed to appease Indonesia rather than to enhance Australia's immigration regime.'

One of the dissenting Liberal MP's Russell Broadbent had perhaps one of the more poignant speeches made on why he shall cross the floor:
'...The decision I had taken to oppose this legislation, to follow my conscience and vote for the first time, and I hope the last time, against the Government of which I was elected as a member, is made because it is in the long-term national interest of this great south land to continue to be a compassionate protector of the rights of refugees, irrespective of the importance of the close relationship between Australia and one of our neighbours.

I believe there is a potential for this bill to cause serious harm to the progress we have made on this issue as a nation and to the vulnerable people it would affect. I will be voting against these amendments knowing that there are some in my party who do not agree with the "plural tradition" of the Liberal Party and its principles of free thought and individual conscience. Some warn that any dissent is a form of political death. I am no stranger to death. I have suffered defeat four times, but I have also been elected to this house three times. It is not the office of the federal member that is important; it is what you do in office. I take comfort in the words of Dr Martin Luther King: "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." This bill is an issue of challenge and controversy.

If I am to die politically because of my stance on this bill, it is better to die on my feet than to live on my knees.

As mentioned the vote should take place just before question time. No doubt it shall pass given the governments majority in the house. However to pass the Senate there is little doubt that a few amendments must be made for the Bill to pass. Time will tell, with the bill expected to come before the Senate sometime next week.

I'll let you know if anything interesting happens with the vote, although I doubt it will.

posted by Mark @ 5:01 PM