NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell has appointed an expert panel to examine the introduction of recall elections so voters can dump “corrupt, incompetent governments”. The move makes good on an election promise Mr O’Farrell made ahead of the March poll to voters angry at the then Labor government.
“People across this state were desperate for an early election so they could throw out an incompetent, disastrous and corrupt government that NSW had,” Mr O’Farrell told question time on Monday.
David Jackson QC will chair the panel, which will report to the government at the end of September on the feasibility of establishing recall elections.
Constitutional experts Professor George Williams and Dr Elaine Thompson have also been appointed to the panel.
Mr O’Farrell first proposed examining recall elections last year, as voter anger with the scandal-plagued former Labor government intensified.
“While we supported fixed, four year parliamentary terms, what became clear during the last parliament was the need for a safety valve to rid voters of corrupt, incompetent governments in NSW,” he said.
“A recall provision would give power back to the people.”
Full Article: NSW panel to look at recall elections.