Legislation Archives – Page 2 of 14 – Stephen Andrew Kickstart Queensland

SIGN THE PETITION to Keep Cash as a guaranteed payment option in Queensland

Yesterday’s announcement by South Burnett Regional Council that an earlier ban on cash at the Kingaroy waste facility, will now be extended to three more tips, has caused widespread outrage.

The Council is trying to ‘sell’ the policy as one solely motivated by its commitment to people’s ‘safety and security’.

They treat us like children.

By introducing these ‘go cashless’ policies in this gradual and piecemeal manner, all masked in ‘soothing’ buzzwords like ‘safety’, ‘convenience’, ‘protection’ etc, they think people won’t notice what is happening until it’s too late.

Their ultimate goal being to turn Queensland into a ‘cashless’ society by stealth.

The Courier Mail quoted one Councillor as saying: “cash poses several risks… including theft and damage from attempted break-ins. Whilst this will not totally eliminate the risk of break-ins, it is expected to lower risks”.

Did you catch the key word in all that?

Risk.

They slip it in all the time now, whenever the subject of cash is raised.

It’s all part of a deliberate strategy by banks and governments to “frame” cash as something risky, unsafe, dodgy even.

Similar ‘framing’ tactics are used to position cash as a ‘risk’ to public health – as something dirty, germ-ridden and dangerous.

The word “risk” is now regularly trotted out and used to demonise everything associated with the ‘old normal’, and cash is at the top of that list.

Allowing councils, big business, banks and other vested interest groups, to dictate public policy in this covert and sneaky manner, completely outside the normal democratic process, must not be tolerated.

Cash is legal tender. It is also safe, private, reliable, bank charge-free and a handy back-up for when other systems fail.

Banning its use is discriminatory and will adversely impact the many groups and individuals within society who still prefer to use it.

Which is why I have put up a Parliamentary Petition calling on Government to urgently introduce legislation that guarantees people’s right to use cash in Queensland.

‘Long live the consensus’

The ability to hold government to account is the very essence of responsible government, and a core function of parliament.

In Queensland, parliament’s authority is steadily being eroded, as ‘executive power’ increases by the day.

The situation is worsened by several factors, not least being the abolition of the state’s Legislative Council in 1922.

Never has the lack of an Upper House been more sorely missed than it is today.

Without one, the power of the party with a majority on the floor, is virtually absolute.

Something that has bred arrogance in a government, that is becoming more and more dismissive of ‘critics’ and utterly resistant to change.

Any form of criticism is now routinely cast as ‘divisive’, ‘extremist’, ‘racist’ or just plain ‘misinformed’.

Seldom do they bother trying to refute opponents based on rational arguments.

They simply impute ‘bad faith’ to those who don’t agree with them and refuse to engage in meaningful debate.

This is contrary to all democratic norms and processes.

Emphasis is instead continually placed on strong leadership, efficiency and “getting things done”.

Any democratic ‘checks’ and ‘balances’ are little more than ‘obstacles’ to be neutralised or bypassed altogether.

It is a form of government usually referred to as ‘Napoleonic’.

Which is a nice way of saying ‘authoritarian’.

Historically, it was seen as the legitimate role of an Opposition Party to provide reasoned criticism and an alternative viewpoint.

Not anymore.

Today, when boisterous shouting matches erupt on the floor of the house, it is usually no more than a squabble over the best way to implement a particular government policy or program.

Rarely is there any serious disagreement on any of the key issues that matter – like climate change, globalisation, Agenda 2030, vegetation laws, coral reefs, global governance, automation, data gathering, surveillance and the digital economy.

On those issues, the majors are pretty much in ‘lockstep’.

True ‘dissenting voices’ are detested, no matter how reasoned or logical they are.

‘Conviction’ politics is dead.

Long live ‘the Consensus’.

RIGHT TO USE CASH TO BE PROTECTED BY LAW

SIGN THE PETITION to Keep Cash as a guaranteed payment option in Queensland

Click here to sign and share the Petition

Missing Upper House

‘Long live the consensus’