“Charge or Burden on the People”: The Origins and Meaning of the Third Paragraph of Section 53 of the Commonwealth Constitution

Abstract

“The Senate may not amend any proposed law so as to increase the proposed charge or burden on the people.”¹

“I confess it came as a surprise to me to find that this House could make a law to shoot dogs, or poison them, or to do anything with them except increase the tax on them half-a-crown.”²