The Australian Democrats today called for Greens Senator Bob Brown to back his call to advance global democracy through one vote, one value, by supporting that principle in Western Australia.
In a display of breathtaking hypocrisy, the Greens today refused the Democrats leave to amend Senator Brown's Greens motion to instead call for one vote, one value in Western Australia.
Senator Brown today moved that the Senate:
a) supports global democracy based on the principle of one person, one vote, one value; and
b) supports the vision of a global parliament which empowers the world's people equally to decide on matters of international significance (General Business Notice of Motion no. 468).
The Democrats would have amended the motion to read that the Senate:
a) supports the principle of one vote, one value; and
b) urges the WA Greens to support the ALP's proposal in WA to introduce one vote, one value in the West Australian legislature.
Democrats' Electoral Matters Spokesperson, Senator Andrew Murray, said Senator Brown's motion in the Senate reflects loose thinking and a double standard.
"Firstly, they're arguing that large populations in large countries should dominate the little guys. This doesn't advance democracy one bit," Senator Murray said.
"Their motion would support countries such as the US, Russia, India and China being entirely dominant over smaller countries because they have a larger population.
"When the Democrats attempted to amend the Greens motion on the more fundamental issue of democracy facing Western Australia, we were refused leave.
"In an almost unbelievable double standard, it must be noted that it is the Greens who are blocking one vote, one value from being introduced in Western Australia.
"The level of hypocrisy we have seen from the Greens today is breathtaking," concluded Senator Murray.
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