FOR AND AGAINST: Different Views
Document 6

On the grounds of Democracy
At the time of federation Tocsin was a radical weekly newspaper that promoted political reforms to give power to the workers. This extract uses wonderfully colourful language to voice its passionate opposition to Federation.

Focus questions
FeQ11 What are the two main reforms the Tocsin wants?
FeQ12 Why would paying parliamentarians a wage that they can live on lead to stronger democracy?

WORKERS AGAINST FEDERATION

... Federation once achieved by concessions to popular clamour, and big commercial gambles consummated in consequence ... will be used to filch back the conquests of Democracy, and fix more firmly the cherished safeguards of Conservatism. Already Federation is given as a reason why the strength of our Legislative Assembly should be reduced: why Payment of Members should be whittled away to a formality: why One-Man-One-Vote should be denied: why Women's Suffrage should be shelved: and why Old Age Pension legislation should be delayed. We are in one and the same breath asked to abandon our dreams of Constitutional reforms, and at the same time fatally maim the only means at our disposal to achieve their realisation. And in return, what are we offered? A fatuous Federation, a sort of materialised sentimentality, an inflated vision of mock Nationalism, a gigantic Spieler's trick perpetrated by Frauds for the spoliation of Fools!

Tocsin's demand, throughout this Walpurgis night of Federal froth and fume, has been that local Constitutional reform should be achieved before Federation is conceded. The reforms asked are modest. One of the States, South Australia, which will be in the first Union, has them both: the other, New South Wales, has one of them. If Victoria enters the Union without them, all chance of ever being on anything like a level with her neighbours in these respects will be gone for ever. If she cannot get One Man One Vote and Women's Suffrage with an assembly of 96 Members, at £300 a year each, she will certainly never get them with an Assembly cut down probably to 48, and only nominally paid. Federation will offer no compensation, for, however much the importance of the provincial Parliaments may be diminished, they will still be vital influences in many momentous issues. Take Labour legislation and most Social laws, such as the Factories and Licensing Acts, as instances. So great are the capitalistic interests involved in them, that there must be a continual struggle to maintain the right principles which they lack. But if the Assembly is reduced, if Payment of Members is practically abolished, if electorates are enlarged, if Plural Voting is perpetuated, and Women's Suffrage placed beyond hope, a Tory gang will hold permanent possession of the provincial Parliament of Victoria, and all prospect of local political progress will be gone for ever.

Tocsin, Melbourne, 29 June 1899, cited in Scott Bennett (ed.), Federation, Cassell Australia, North Melbourne, 1975, pp. 44-5.