PM dodges Clive Palmer’s question on separation of powers

Federal Member for Fairfax

Media release

Federal leader of the Palmer United Party and Member for Fairfax, Clive Palmer, said Australians had a right to know the Prime Minister’s position on the separation of powers after dodging a question on the issue in Parliament today.

Mr Palmer’s question to the Prime Minister was:

“In 2009 the member for Wentworth lost the support of the Liberal Party and ultimately the opposition leadership, because a treasury official lied to the Senate.

“Is it okay Prime Minister that an Australian citizen could lose his citizenship because a government official lies or make a mistake, and the citizen has no way of correcting such lie or mistake?

“Does the Prime Minister understand about the separation of powers and the Magna Carta, and what they are all about?”

Speaker of the House, Bronwyn Bishop directed Prime Minister Tony Abbott not to answer the question.

“Australians are still waiting for an answer to this important question as to where Abbott government stands on the separation of powers and the important principles of constitutional law laid out in the Magna Carta,’’ Mr Palmer said.

“Serious questions need to be asked as to what is the Government’s true agenda with its attempts to exclude judicial scrutiny and erode our rights and freedoms as Australian citizens under the Constitution,’’ Mr Palmer said.

ENDS