TASMANIA-BICAMERALISM AND CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

In: The Parliamentarian: journal of the parliaments of the Commonwealth, Band 70, Heft 3, S. 140-145

Abstract

THE AUTHOR PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF BICAMERALISM AND CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM IN THE ISLAND STATE OF THE AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION KNOWN AS TASMANIA. BACKGROUND INFORMATION IS PROVIDED ON THE BICAMERAL PARLIAMENTS, WHICH INCLUDES THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, AS WELL AS AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION WHICH HAVE OCCURRED SINCE INDEPENDENCE IN THE MID-1850S. REFORM WHICH OCCURRED IN THE MID-1920S IS HIGHLIGHTED, ALONG WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT IN NOVEMBER 1981 OF A THREE-PERSON ROYAL COMMISSION ON THE CONSTITUTION. A BILL WHICH WOULD AFFECT THE BALANCE OF POWER BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONAL BODIES CONCERNING FINANCIAL AFFAIRS IS DEBATED AND PLANS FOR A 1990 REFERENDUM ON THIS BILL ARE PRESENTED.