The Advertiser Editorial, August 20, 2019: Council gag is an affront to democracy
The absurd proposal by Onkaparinga Council to prevent any criticism of it by elected members is an affront to democracy and should be scrapped.
During World War I, former United States President Theodore Roosevelt declared that announcing there must be no criticism of the office was unpatriotic, servile and morally treasonable to the American public.
Roosevelt argued the President was merely the most important among a large number of public servants and, as such, he should be “supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the nation”.
Imagine, then, what one of America’s greatest presidents would have made of Onkaparinga Council’s draft media policy, which would require elected members to inform the Mayor and/or chief executive officer as soon as possible if they speak to the media, if not before.
Under the proposal, which will now be discussed at a workshop rather than a council meetings – following inquiries from The Advertiser – elected members are required to be respectful of council decisions.
They would not criticise the council, its decisions, or the administration on social media.
This is absurd and an affront to democracy.
Elected members’ freedom of speech should not be stymied, nor should they have to seek approval for comments from other public servants.
They are not answerable to the Mayor or an unelected chief executive.
They are answerable to the ratepayers, particularly those in their wards, who cast their votes in their favour.
Adelaide City Council in June introduced and soon reversed an order that unwisely sought to impose restrictions on elected members’ public comments.
Let’s hope the workshop takes a similar approach and places Onkaparinga’s proposal on the scrapheap.
Time to introduce GM crops
When the former State Government introduced its ban on genetically modified crops in 2004, it seemed like a prudent move.
At the time there were still great fears about the potential environmental and even health impacts of GM crops, and an argument to be made about SA retaining its “clean, green” image.
But 15 years on, it is clear that the moratorium has become a handbrake on the agricultural sector that is critical to the state economy.
An independent analysis has found grain growers are $33 million worse off than they would have been if the moratorium had never been put in place.
It found there was no price premium for GM-free product in most cases.
Grain Producers SA says the Marshall Government’s plan to lift the ban next season will put the state on a level playing field with the rest of the country.
It argues that SA growers have been left planting crop varieties that are decades out of date.
Lifting the ban not only has immediate benefits for growers, but will allow SA to be involved in GM research that will reap rewards in years to come.