I agree - and that was in the old days when a petition was the result of
hard work standing outside shopping centres etc and where there was a
reasonable chance that at least some of the names were accurate!
Now a politician would have no idea if the petitioners were even "local" to
the area (or even if they were real people!) - and whilst of course anyone
is entitled to have a view on a subject even if they don't live in the area
a politician usually responds only if they feel that their chance of
re-election may be affected!
On 8 May 2014 11:12, david robertson <> wrote:
> The problem with petitions is that although they create a feel-good
> feeling,
> they don't work. I remember the late Don Chip, who was then the leader of
> the Democrats, describing what happened to petitions. They are wheeled in
> to Parliament just before the start of Parliamentary business for the day.
> The MPs are studying the order of business and chatting to each other. A
> MP moves that permission be granted to receive the petition. Permission is
> granted.
>
> They are then wheeled away to the basement and never heard of again. 'But
> I
> tell you, if any politician receives 50 individual letters (not form ones),
> he will be in my office next morning, saying "You must do something about
> X.
> There's a groundswell out there.."
>
> The solution is obvious.
>
> David Robertson
>
> Adelaide
>
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