Former WA and Federal politician Graham Edwards has been honoured as Seniors Australian of the Year. Very well deserved award for a man who brought democracy a step closer to Western Australia back in 1984.
Graham Edwards brought democracy to those people living in Western Australia who did not own any land or property.
It seems really quaint today when we read that the WA government found nothing at all to be concerned about when only those owning property could vote, their argument was that if you weren't paying why should you have any right to be consulted about your opinions.
After a passionate speech from Edwards wherein he reminded the members of the Legislative Assembly that they were willing to send their young men to war in Vietnam regardless of whether they had any land and property to defend. Edwards himself lost both legs in Vietnam. He believed that democracy had nothing to do with wealth and if they could fight then they should be able to vote and democracy must begin at grassroots level.
The legislation passed and non-property owners can now vote.
However, those tricky little pollies found another way. Corporations owning investment properties, (the houses that are rented by the non-owners who gained the vote) can now have two votes. Our local government has now found yet another way to disenfranchise residents as they only send community surveys to property owners.
The grass just keeps on getting trampled!
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