Nick McKim
THE Legislative Council would lose the power to reject new laws under a proposal to neuter it being pursued by the Greens.
Greens Leader Nick McKim said yesterday he believes MLCs should only be able to delay the passage of legislation to stop it behaving as a ``second government''.
The government has been repeatedly frustrated by a hostile Legislative Council which blocked its bid to legalise same-sex marriage, ban political donations from tobacco companies and hand back land to the Aboriginal community last year.
MLCs may also reject legislation to enact the forestry peace agreement when it next sits later this month.
The Greens have not committed to introducing legislation to force the change, but wants an MLC to drive the reform.
``We need an upper house member who's brave enough to take on Legislative Council reform,'' Mr McKim said.
The length of the maximum delay has also not been determined, but political analyst Richard Herr, of the University of Tasmania, has recommended a six-month maximum after which the bill would automatically become law.
Legislative Council President Sue Smith said it was a ``recycled idea'' and questioned why the Greens were not focused on bigger issues such as rising unemployment.
Ms Smith said MLCs should retain the right to reject proposed legislation, unless the government had a clear mandate.