It's troubling the Liberal government sees no reason for the legislature to sit this fall and even appears not to grasp the role of MLAs in our system.
Premier Gordon Campbell cancelled the scheduled fall sitting of the legislature yesterday. His government has no legislation ready to present, so there is nothing for MLAs to do in Victoria, he says.
For starters, the claim the government has no legislative agenda is baffling. Two significant bills were left in limbo at the end of the spring session. Those could be debated and passed. The government has acknowledged that changes are needed to the Police Act, lobbyist legislation and in other areas -- surely some of that work could be done.
The government could -- and should -- have deferred some legislation passed in the spring to a fall sitting. That would have avoided the undemocratic charade that saw a rush of last-minute legislation, including seven bills rushed through the legislature on the last day of the spring session. Those bills, passed without debate or questions, included the carbon tax legislation.
And while Campbell has no legislation he cares to present, other MLAs might. NDP MLAs have presented bills on farm safety, security for mobile home park tenants and support for victims of crime that are waiting to be debated.
In any case, the legislature doesn't exist just to pass laws. It offers MLAs, both government and opposition, the chance to represent their constituents' interests -- to ask questions, raise concerns and hold cabinet ministers to account. It offers the government a chance to explain and defend its actions.
Campbell has said, for example, that the public doesn't understand the need for huge pay increases for senior managers in government. A fall sitting is just the place to end that confusion. Finance Minister Colin Hansen says opposition to the carbon tax is based on misunderstanding. Rather launching another expensive TV advertising campaign -- which the government plans -- why not answer questions in the legislature?
MLAs haven't had the opportunity to question ministers on the auditor general's scathing report on the release of thousands of acres from tree farm licences. There's concern about the forest industry, a slowing economy, gas prices, seniors' care and a host of issues. The public elected MLAs to discuss those issues.
Instead, the legislature will sit for just 47 days this year, one of the briefest sessions in a non-election year in decades. That might suit the Liberals' political purposes; it betrays the public.