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Parliamentarians Must Vote With Feet Not Party
November 22nd 2005


NSW Democrat MLC, Dr. Arthur Chesterfield-Evans has called for the many parliamentarians, who have expressed private or public doubts about the proposed new Terrorism Bill, to cross the floor and vote against the bill, in it's entirety, when it comes to the vote next week.

"It is inexcusable, in a case like this, to express private doubts and then just go along with the legislation. In some cases, such as the NSW Attorney General, these doubts have been publicly expressed in the very strongest terms. I expect Bob to cross the floor if he expects to have any credibility," said Dr. Chesterfield Evans.

Dr. Chesterfield-Evans has gone on the record on numerous occasions since the Terrorism Bill was proposed, because of its failure to meet the standards set by democratic principles.
"Freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial, the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, the expectation that there will be no detention without charge, these are the things which many people use to define a democracy. If we do not defend these things, if we, in fact, do everything in our power to erode them, then we have done the terrorists work for them," he said.

Dr. Chesterfield-Evans will be forcing the legislation to a vote at each stage, and calling upon all those, who have expressed private or public doubts, to join him on the dissenting side of the house. This invitation will be extended even to the Christian Democrat members who for once will be encouraged by Dr. Chesterfield-Evans in taking biblical guidance on the vexed issue of sedition charges.

"Jesus, according to the bible, was crucified for sedition. That really ought to be something that they consider when the temptation to put the bite on the Muslim community arises. If there is any truth to the Christian text then it seems pretty safe to say that Jesus would not approve of this legislation," he said.

Dr. Chesterfield-Evans will also be launching a Seditious Limerick Competition this week to capture the last moments of democratic freedom in NSW. Entries should be marked "Limerick Entry" and submitted Dr. Chesterfield-Evans, Parliament House, Sydney, NSW 2001 or to ace.mlc@parliament.nsw.gov.au by 5pm, November 22 2005.

Winning entries will be published anonymously on Dr. Chesterfield-Evans website www.chesterfieldevan.com