The " Clayton's parliament " - the one you have when you are not having a parliament !"
That seems like the upper house of the New South Wales parliament which was closed and silent, behind locked doors yesterday.
The government feared defeat on a bill to sell the state lotteries - so house leader Tony Kelly walked out, got in his car - and went home. As a result, with no minister present, the house president, Peter Primrose closed down the house and abandoned business with one scheduled sitting day to go.
Certainly an innovative political tactic, but just what was that all about ?
To get the lotteries sale approved the government needed the support of the Shooters Party, and that party demanded that the government agree to allow shooters to shoot in the National park system.
That's where things got vague ! Exactly what was proposed was not made clear. It could have meant culling animals such as Deer and Kangaroos, which are often in plague proportions, or it could have been open slather on all manner of animals.
Shooting in the National park system would be unlikely to get approval from the general public. Apart from danger to those using the parks from stray bullets, most people have affection for our furry friends - and would not like to see them slaughtered.
It is said that politics makes some strange bed fellows ! Maybe a good time to think again. Selling the lotteries and shooting in National parks seem likely to get the thumb's down in the public opinion stakes - and after all - the parliament is supposed to support the will of the people !
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