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Read the text below and answer the questions that follow the text.
The Senate and the GST
The GST has to get the thumbs up from both houses of parliament. No problem in the lower house - or house of representatives, the government has the most members there. The next stop is the Senate, where it's not quite so easy.
The Senate. The Upper House. The red chamber. This is where bills come for approval, to get the big tick or the big flick. A bill is a suggestion for a new law which has been presented to parliament and the GST is the hottest bill being debated in the Senate at the moment. "The Coalition Government wants a GST, the Labor Party is against it, and the Democrats would like it changed to exclude food." (Mia Handshin - Political Commentator)
Getting the GST through means getting the most numbers. In the Senate there are seventy six senators. The states have twelve each and the territories have two each. In the current Senate, the Coalition Government has thirty seven seats, nine more than Labor's twenty eight. The Democrats have seven and the other four go to the Greens and Independents. If the Democrats, the Greens and Independents sided with the Labor Party and voted against the GST, it wouldn't get through. But they could support the Coalition, vote for a GST and then it would get through. It's called the balance of power. "The balance of power is a situation where the governing party can't get a bill through a house. It's also when one person or a party holds the deciding vote." (Mia Handshin - Political Commentator)
The Democrats and the Greens have already said 'no way' to the GST, unless changes are made. The Government is busy trying to get support from independent Senator Brian Harradine as he holds the balance of power. This is the Government's first go at trying to get the GST through both houses of parliament. If it doesn't get through the Senate, the Government can have two more goes. Then if that doesn't succeed it may force an election." (Mia Handshin - Political Commentator) The future of the GST won't be decided until the Senate votes at the end of June.
(from Behind the News 21/4/99)
Questions:
1.) Vocabulary:
- thumbs up
- the big flick
What do these 2 phrases mean?
2) The GST is the hottest bill being debated in the Senate at the moment.
What does the phrase " the hottest bill" mean in this sentence?
3) The Democrats are opposed to the GST. Is this statement true or false? (Give reasons for your answer.)
4) If the Democrats, the Greens and Independents sided with the Labour Party and voted against the GST, it wouldn't get through.
a) Who or what are 'the Greens'?
b) What does the phrase 'wouldn't get through' mean in this context?
5) This article says that Senator Brian Harradine holds the balance of power. Can you explain what this means?
6) The states have twelve (senators) each and the territories have two each. What are 'the territories?'
7) Under what circumstances might the issue of the GST force an election?
YOUR OPINION
8. Write at least 10 lines outlining your own views on the GST. Do you think Australia should have it? Why? Why not?