Back in 1992, our then prime minister Paul Keating forbad Treasurer John Dawkins from appearing before a senate estimates committee, writing off the entire upper house as unrepresentative swill. The role of the senate in our democracy has always been controversial. Some see it as a vital provider of checks and balances. Others regard it as an obstructive group hell bent on hindering the passage of legislation for purely political reasons. This IQ2 debate proposed The Senate is Still Unrepresentative Swill with Annabel Crabb, Senator Nick Sherry and Peter Van Onselen arguing for the affirmative team and Anne Twomey, Simon Sheikh and Senator Bob Brown arguing for the negative. Watch it in full at abc.net.au/bigideas
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