Friends, dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to pay our last respects to democracy, well at least according to right-wing commentators such as Alan Jones. Those who have paid attention to the news in recent months would have seen the angry opposition towards the Federal Government with angry protesters holding signs saying “Ditch the Witch”. The Federal Government of late has come under intense scrutiny over every piece of legislation it has proposed, especially the prospect of mandatory pre-commitment on poker machines and the toxic carbon tax that Julia Gillard lied about. Many people would have remembered during the last federal election – and constantly reminded now – that Julia Gillard said there would be no carbon tax under the government she led. Anger and controversy spread after she announced there would be a carbon tax after sealing a deal with the Greens in order to gain power in minority government, something that Tony Abbott would have to have done in order to gain government. It is here that democracy apparently died. People who are opposed to Julia Gillard and anything remotely Left-Wing believe that Julia Gillard lied to the people and hence has no right to propose carbon tax legislation without a mandate from the people. They believe that the people should have the right to vote on the legislation; because their beliefs have not been consummated they believe throwing a tantrum is the best way to force legislative change. But democracy isn’t dead. In fact everything that has occurred in Canberra has been democratic. Those who are opposed to Gillard and her government say that they never voted for a Gillard Government in a minority parliament, in an attempted bid to force an election. However, by the same token, no-one decisively voted for a Coalition Government. Members of Parliament who were democratically elected decided who to support in minority government. The Gillard Government is democratically introducing and passing Bills. There is no evil Communist plot or dictatorship as some might have us believe. People like Alan Jones would have us believe democracy has died, passed on and perished, simply because his views have not been met. The angry opposition to the government and the disgusting language that has been used is extremely inappropriate. Democracy thrives on civilised debate, not two-year-old tantrums from adults. Democracy isn’t dead; it’s still alive and kicking.
Matthew Barton,
Duval High School Student
