Bold push to sack MPs midterm, allow residents to veto laws

Politicians could be dismissed midterm by their constituents if they under-perform, in a radical push put before parliament.

Under-performing politicians could be dismissed midterm by their constituents and Queenslanders given the right to veto legislation under a radical push put before parliament.

A petition launched by Bruce Vaschina, a former independent candidate for Pine Rivers, claims there is a “significant imbalance” between the power of Queensland members of parliament and their constituents in the time between general elections.

“Once elected, it is entirely possible for them to ignore the will of their constituents or behave in a manner of which their constituents disapprove, without any timely consequences,” Mr Vaschina’s petition notes.

The petition was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday of last week’s sitting, drawing chuckles and grunts from sitting MPs which prompted the intervention of Speaker Curtis Pitt.

The petition requests powers for “a suitable proportion of electors” within a seat to initiate a snap by-election or midterm “electronic confirmation elections” within each Queensland electorate.

It also requests the right for residents to veto legislation passed by the parliament.

Mr Vaschina won 1 per cent of the vote in Pine Rivers – which was won by Labor’s Nikki Boyd.

The petition is yet to be referred to a government minister for response.

Separately, a petition from One Nation MP Steven Andrew drew more than 17,000 signatures calling on the Queensland parliament to oppose the Bill providing an extension to the powers granted to the Chief Health Officer.

The Bill was passed by the parliament with amendments on September 2.

Mr Andrew’s petition also calls for the government to make public health data and modelling used in the Covid-19 decision-making process and remove the mandated Check-in Qld QR codes for shops and businesses.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath is due to respond to Mr Andrew’s petition by October 1.