Dawesville Independent candidate Dave Schumacher.
Camera IconDawesville Independent candidate Dave Schumacher. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Dawesville candidate Schumacher wants to hand power of recall elections to the people

Jill BurgessMandurah Coastal Times

DAWESVILLE Independent candidate Dave Schumacher believes recall elections need to be introduced in Australia.

It would be his first goal if elected.

A recall election – also called a recall referendum or representative recall – is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before their term has ended.

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Recalls, initiated when sufficient voters sign a petition, date back to ancient Greece and are a feature of several contemporary constitutions, including Canada, Switzerland and the USA.

In indirect or representative democracy, representatives are elected and rule for a specific period of time.

But if any representative does not properly discharge their responsibilities, they can be called back with the written request of a specific number of voters.

Mr Schumacher said recall elections would give power back to the people when politicians did not act in the best interests of the community or the electorate that held them responsible for rorts, scandals and broken promises and helped restore democracy.

“It’s the people who vote politicians in to represent them,’’ he said.

“It’s the people who pay their salaries, travel expenses and perks and therefore the people who should be recognised and have the power.

“Its the people who ultimately employ them and should have the power to sack them during the four year term, not leave it up to the leaders of political parties.”