Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott should consider his position on the proposed constitutional change, says Philip Davis. Picture: Jane Dempster Source: The Daily Telegraph
TONY Abbott and the federal Coalition have made a huge mistake going along with Julia Gillard in her attempt to centralise power in Canberra.
And Prime Minister Gillard has now corrupted the debate on constitutional change before the referendum to coincide with the federal election on September 14.
The Commonwealth is giving $10.5 million in funding for the Yes campaign, but the No camp will get only $500,000.
In doing so, the Federal Government has denied the people an opportunity to hear both sides of the debate.
Mr Abbott has questioned the Prime Minister's decision on funding and should now consider his position on the proposed constitutional change.
His position in support of the Yes vote is out of step with his state Liberal Party colleagues.
The Victorian, NSW, WA and Queensland governments are opposed to the referendum. And his position is at odds with his party's philosophy.
The Liberal Federal Council last year voted against constitutional recognition of local government.
While Mr Abbott can afford to sit back and watch Labor self-destruct, he can ill-afford to allow major constitutional change to be stuffed up on such a grand scale.
The so-called "small" amendment could have big ramifications for our current system of government. The change is designed to give Canberra direct control over local councils by diminishing the role of state governments.
Voters will be asked to decide whether to amend Section 96 of the Constitution regarding funding arrangements from the federal government to the states to include the words "and local government bodies". The rest of the amended sentence reads "on such terms as the Parliament sees fit".
Ms Gillard wants Canberra to control the purse strings of local councils, doing away with the states and their checks and balances of transparency and accountability.
Currently, funding from Canberra is passed down to the states, which manage the distribution of funds based on geographic and demographic considerations.
That has been the case since Federation.
The Constitution allows the Commonwealth Parliament to legislate on certain matters affecting the nation. The states have a residual power over all other matters including the regulation of local government.
The Federal Government can and does fund local councils directly. Already, Victorian councils receive $100 million a year directly from Canberra and that has never been challenged.
Local councillors throughout Australia, including Melbourne's Lord Mayor, Robert Doyle, are being fooled into believing that rivers of gold await them and are using ratepayers' money to fund the Yes case. Victorian councils are expected to contribute $2 million to the cause.
But there is no capacity for the Federal Government to create a new revenue stream specifically for councils. What is on offer here is fool's gold. Given Federal Budget deficits, where will this money come from?
Even the Federal Government's own bill in its Explanatory Memorandum states: "The proposed constitutional alteration would have no financial impact."
The Coalition's spokesman on the referendum, Senator Barnaby Joyce, was "affronted" by the fact that equal funding was not given to each side of the argument. The way in which the Federal Government has mismanaged this debate proves that it cannot be trusted.
The behaviour of the Gillard Government has cemented the No case by highlighting the critical role the states play in providing checks and balances within our federation.
The legacy of Julia Gillard's Labor Government will linger long after she has gone. Do not let her leave a stain on the founding document of our nation. We should leave the Constitution alone and preserve our federal system of government.
Say "No" to Julia Gillard at the election.
And say "No" to Julia Gillard's referendum. And that includes you, Tony Abbott.
Philip Davis MLC is the member for Eastern Victoria
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