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https://theconversation.com/a-prisoner-voting-ban-shows-again-how-few-checks-there-are-on-parliamentary-power-256226>
"Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith’s recent announcement that the government
would reinstate a total ban on prisoners voting was in keeping with the
coalition’s overall tough-on-crime approach.
The move was called “ridiculous” and “stupid” by opposition spokespeople,
largely because it contradicted findings by the Supreme Court and the Waitangi
Tribunal.
But behind those concerns about the ban placing an “unreasonable limit on the
electoral rights guaranteed under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act” lies a
broader constitutional question to do with parliament’s relationship with the
courts.
In short, removing prisoner voting rights will damage a critical but fragile
check on government power – what is known as the “judicial declaration of
inconsistency”."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics