Qld: No vote on four-year terms

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2008
Qld: No vote on four-year terms

By Gabrielle Dunlevy

BRISBANE, April 30 AAP - A Queensland referendum on four-year parliamentary terms won't
go ahead, with Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg withdrawing support and accusing
the premier of bad faith.

In February state parliament voted unanimously for a referendum on the issue and a
cross-party working group determining the timing and details of the referendum was formed.

Mr Springborg supported the motion but later said it was conditional on part of the
referendum's terms outlawing MPs lying to parliament and other accountability measures.

In state parliament today Premier Anna Bligh delivered an ultimatum to Mr Springborg
asking him to restate unconditional support for four-year terms by the end of next week
or the working party would be dismantled.

"Four-year terms will once again be off the agenda until we have an opposition leader
who can be trusted to stick to his word," Ms Bligh said.

A 1991 referendum on four-year terms failed after the Nationals did not support the move.

Mr Springborg told reporters Ms Bligh had breached an agreement to keep the business
of the working group confidential, and in doing so had jettisoned another opportunity.

"The premier's not been serious, and the real reason for this is that this premier
is planning an early election, as early as February-March next year," Mr Springborg said.

"And she cannot go to the polls early having just held a referendum in November of
this year for fixed four-year parliamentary terms.

"Frankly we cannot continue in a process where we're seeing such an absolute breach
of confidentiality and the decency which we put into that particular meeting."

Mr Springborg promised a coalition government would hold the referendum and repeal
laws allowing MPs to lie to parliament within its first 100 days.

Although Ms Bligh agreed to Mr Springborg's request that parliament standing orders
be examined - albeit through the standing orders committee - Mr Springborg said he was
unwilling to continue the talks.

"What the premier effectively did today was to kill it," he said.

Fixed terms would bring Queensland into line with all other states and territories
and local government.

AAP gd/pjo/jfm/bwl

KEYWORD: TERMS NIGHTLEAD

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