support Government Senate Leader Milton Scott's call for the dismissal of the Independent members of the Upper House.

Sen. Scott has been rightly criticised for his statement that he would like to return in the autumn and see new faces among the Independent Senators after they voted against two Government bills.

There is no need to again go into why Sen. Scott was wrong to make the statement on both factual and constitutional grounds. But what is disappointing is the fact that while comment has been forthcoming from all sectors of the community, nothing has been said by the Government.

Actually, Government has made one statement. This week, Government Information Services issued the following statement from Premier Jennifer Smith: "If the Government had a public statement to make on this matter, it would have been forthcoming.'' In other words, no comment.

It is true that not a single member of the Government has stood up to say they agree with Sen. Scott -- but not a single member has criticised him either.

Ms Smith's statement notwithstanding, it is still unclear if the Government itself agrees with Sen. Scott. As a Cabinet Minister, he is bound by collective responsibility. In the absence of any statement from the Cabinet or the Premier, it has to be assumed that Sen. Scott has the support of his colleagues.

That's bad news for independent-minded members of the community.

Supporters of the Opposition will be criticised, just as they criticise the Government.

But, according to Sen. Scott, and by inference the Government, people who belong to no party have no right to criticise or object to laws or policies.

Apparently, because the Progressive Labour Party won the last General Election, you cannot disagree with it -- on anything.

That description may appear harsh and may overstate the case. But if the Government does not distance itself from Sen. Scott's remarks, then people will come to believe that is what the Government believes.

A Government which hears only what it wants to hear will no longer be grounded in reality. Hearing only what it wants to hear, it will make mistakes which it could have avoided had it listened to legitimate objections.

The Government came to power with a magnificent stock of goodwill from people of every political stripe; it's a shame that it is being wasted as a result of statements like Sen. Scott's.