Melbourne Law School - Research Publications

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Government control of royal assent in Victoria

WAUGH, JOHN ( 2006)

The giving of royal assent to proposed laws was the centre of a controversy in Victoria in 2005. These events directed fresh attention to the power of the Queen's representative, the Governor, and of the Victorian Government, over Bills that have passed both Houses of Parliament but not yet become law. This article comments on the legal basis of royal assent and the question of whether the government can advise the Governor to withhold assent to a Bill that has passed both Houses.
Blocking supply in Victoria

WAUGH, JOHN ( 2002)

In Australian parliaments, the power to block supply (where it survives) is the ultimate weapon of an upper house majority that wants to force the Government to call an election. Its effect is to cut off the Government authority to continue the part of its spending that Parliament must authorise afresh each year. This article comments on the distinctive law and history concerning supply deadlocks in Victoria, where the upper house has blocked supply more often than in any other Australian parliament.