Methinks the author confuses Lobby groups with charities.

Freedom of expression is guaranteed, but so is freedom of association.

Tanya

Can you please tell us just what components of your article are personal expression and what are Labor policy.

I think it is very important for us to understand this, so that we may know what Labor would do in the way of improving democracy if it wins power.

Thankyou.

I completely agree with Ludwig on this one.

An opposition has the job of attacking the current government. It also should be preparing for future government.

I too would like to see Labor policies what would contribute to the Australian democratic tradition. The only policy I am aware of is the series of republican plebicites. Does anyone know if that still going to occur all in one term, as explained by Mark Latham?

(Republican Group: http://www.copernican.info)

• Tanya Plibersek: "An authentic democracy depends on its citizens being given a variety of ways to have their say"... Precisely why we need to examine conscientious citizen's commonsense logic! Which dictates on your local Electorate Office to enact a vital umbilical-cord-interface between the electorate and periodically chosen MP, who must adhere to the Representative Democracy notion. Where just as vital on MP was to serve the people, and not merely the executive rulers of the day. While applying vested democracy aim in relation to the real economy generation, along the just-law and-a-solem order maintenance within the social responsibility to the informed community. Solidly set on the equal-citizen-rights for the principle essentials as: Subsistence, Health, Housing, Education and Employment opportunities (onset by the crucial remedy against the stonewalling by mainstream media).

Thus inevitably your local Electorate Office to form communication exchange bureau for active citizens participation within the unhindered need-of-contribution via local parliamentarian's domain, towards the people's-common-good. With an-ultimate goal on mind for a direct, participatory-democracy by people and for the people. Onset to embody our collective responsibility, to eradicate the parasites, who over the years painstakingly feathered their nests within the ivory towers. Subject to elders-of-zion preselection process via invisible hand-picked treacherous leeches and their filthiest derivatives rest. Conditioned to serve evil echelon masters, while forging this marvellous nation (if not for archaic vast-wastage-industries) into oblivion.

One may be excused for having dejected perception at-times of being just an-alien-visitor here from some-distant-planet. Thus having to-face a user-pay consequences. Which must-be contemptible for the conscientious citizens within a country where ensuing generations of youngsters grow and proceed into the adulthood without having a single elevated role-model. Someone to look-up-to (as our maverick Mark Latham), towards the impending achievements to-come. Yet when vagabonds wouldn't care, many forsaken, disenfranchised citizens still got-to-face the utmost uncertain future to-come. While being blacklisted on unemployable's heap all along, they take a stance to survive and proceed with life in the Ghetto Australis, within so paradoxically awesome land of plenty, we call it home

As to the diminished democracy exposé, please proceed to ... http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=4625#47660

Wendy

'Have you forgotton where! the funding comes from?
The people Burnie. '

Wendy, this is the sort of stuff I want to hear from you. Bloody marvellous!

Thankyou Liz

From you thats certainly a compliment.

It seems to have gone over most peoples head but Alby Shults and Eric Abezts['special ministers'who report directly back to John Howard wrote savage letters to branches of the RSPCA threatening they would loose their tax deduction if they campained against Animal Cruelty?

This is only one example but its clearly the pattern for all N.F.P.

Interesting that they feels they have that right.

Perhaps it might be because they donate a grant to National branch of RSPCA to pay their CEOs with by way of contract.

So if that pays the wages and they supply a car and holidays how can the RSPCA be a non Government organisation?

Couple that with the fact that dPI [state goverments] do farm animal inspections and not the RSPCA you would have to wonder why?

We the public are conned into donating funds for RSPCA ban Live Exports and intensive farming rallies?

I wonder if thats the way the Government pay the CEOs wages in the first place? > with the publics donations perhaps?

Who Knows but it puts a whole new meaning to > Be Quiet or you will loose your funding.

Whos kidding Who?