Retrospective legislation

Dear Editor,



Territorians who can still remember the freedom this place enjoyed before the Martin/Henderson Labor Government came to power must surely becoming increasingly frustrated with the CLP opposition, who clearly have become advocates of excessive regulation and big government.



The very idea of introducing a legal amendment to compel all homeowners to install smoke detectors in existing houses strikes at the heart of what the CLP should stand for. Simply put – freedom, freedom of choice.



Retrospective legislation is an abhorrent concept, and whilst popular with the Labor socialists, it should rarely, if ever, be considered by any party who professes to believe in freedom and the rights of the individual.



Of course, I have no argument about the value of smoke detection devices. They can save lives. But where does government intervention in people’s lives stop?



Since coming to power in 2001, the Martin/Henderson Labor government has trashed the rights of Territorians in so many areas – including: unnecessary pool-fencing laws; removal of open speed limits on our highways; forcing businesses to install no-smoking areas…. And a whole lot more.



Now it seems the CLP, together with Labor are supporting Gerry Wood’s crazy Container Deposit Scheme. This is yet another silly and totally unnecessary impost on Territorians, and one which will achieve nothing except to extract more funds from our pockets.



If Territorians want to live in an over-regulated nanny-state, they most certainly have one under the Martin/Henderson Labor government. But sadly they will also continue to have one under any future CLP government.





Yours truly,



Dave Wane



Woodleigh Gardens