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Thursday, 12 October 1978

To the Honourable the President and Members of the Senate assembled, the petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth:

That the people of Australia having taken part in the government of Australia through universal suffrage in December 1975 and again in December 1977; and

That on the basis of their expressed choice at the ballot box the people of Australia gave authority to the LiberalNational Country Party Coalition to form a federal government to bring into effect specific policies promulgated throughout the length and breadth of Australia by the said Coalition; and

That, whereas by virtue of being elected through universal suffrage the Government Members now sitting in the House of Representatives were authorised to implement their state objectives by legislation and that such authority did not extend to acting otherwise or to enact legislation not previously submitted to the will of the people, namely:-

Revoking the legislation for twice-yearly pension payments.

Imposing a freeze on the free-of-means-test pension.

Unemployed divided into those with dependents and those without.

Imposing income tax on pensions under age pension age- invalied and repatriation service pensions; rehabilitation allowances and incentives; sheltered employment and allowances for tuberculosis suffers (civilian and service ) and any other impositions.

Your petitioners submit that all or any of the foregoing proposed legislation of the Lower House, if implemented, will greatly disadvantage many thousands of citizens as either against their expressed will or not submitted to universal vote as the democratic right of the Australian people.

Therefore, your petitioners call on the Senate as the House of Review to take appropriate action to release these persons from burdens unfairly placed in order to finance a deficit not of their making.

An your petitioners in duty bound will ever pray. by Senators Jessop, Missen, Evans, Archer, Guilfoyle and Rae.

Petitions received.

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