Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said “you can’t reflect society if 90% of your members of parliament were chosen from trade unions and worked in trade unions”. Let’s take a look at the numbers.
Yingiya Guyula (seated right) wants to be allowed to use the Yolngu Matha language in the NT Legislative Assembly to represent his electorate.
Yingiya Guyula
The NT is the only jurisdiction in Australia mandating the use of English in the Legislative Assembly – despite the fact 42% of the population doesn’t speak English at home.
On Saturday, five federal seats will have a byelection, with particular attention being paid to tight races in Longman and Braddon. And all have implications for the major parties and their leaders.
Might there be yet another way in which parliamentarians can unwittingly fall foul of dual citizenship laws?
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South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma’s resistance to vacate the top job may be a blessing in disguise as it will stress test the country’s political systems.
As the legal battle heats up, James Paterson’s bill demonstrates an unconscionable misunderstanding about the indivisibility of human rights.
AAP/Daniel Munoz
The motion of no confidence against South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma showcased tension at the heart of South Africa’s democracy. Should MPs have the right to vote according to their conscience?
South Africa’s previous finance minister, Pravin Gordhan, delivering his medium term budget last October.
Nic Bothma/EPA
The gender-equity rule in Kenya’s constitution offers an opportunity to remedy past wrongs. But the country’s parliament is dragging its feet in implementing it.
South Africa’s Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng making a ruling on secret ballots in Parliament at the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg.
Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters
A motion of no confidence - secret or open - in South Africa’s president will be destabilising. There’s value in ensuring that such a hefty decision is made openly and with courage of conviction.
A Le Pen campaign rally in Villepinte, France on May 1, 2017.
REUTERS/Charles Platiau
Populist parties like France’s Front National typically stress traditional family values. So is it possible for them to appeal to traditional leftist voters like single women and the queer community?
Macron during the first round of parliamentary elections on June 11, 2017.
REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer