Page 399 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 19 February 1991
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So, removing the Hill amendments to the d'Hondt system is a good thing from Mr Jensen's point of view and a bad thing from Mr Collaery's point of view. I found this transcript to contain some of the most peculiar statements that I have ever read in a political document. In discussing how parties would operate under whichever modified form of the d'Hondt system, we come to where Senator Schacht raises with the Rally the question whether they are a political party and how they are different from political machines. This is relevant because earlier on today we heard some cat-calling about party machines selecting candidates. Senator Schacht asked how the Residents Rally selects its candidates? Senator Schacht said:
You had some machinery then, did you not? You acted like a political party.
Mr Collaery said:
No, we did not. The Rally was a non-political grouping of community groups. The community groups put people forward, essentially. That is how it was. Community leaders came together.
Senator Schacht asked the obvious question:
Who selected the community leaders?
Mr Collaery said:
That question you have asked is the most fundamental to democracy. Who selected the community leaders? They are self-selecting. That is the basis of democracy.
As Senator Schacht remarked:
Hitler and Stalin used the same idea to justify their systems.
This self-selecting process of assuming their position on a political ticket - - -
Mr Kaine: Oh!
MR CONNOLLY: The Chief Minister may well be amused; but I am sure that in the Liberal Party, which operates also as a representative party and whose members take part in the process of determining who is to be a candidate, the concept of self-selection of political candidates and self-selection for a position on a ticket would be - - -
Mr Kaine: No, I hope that happens in January.
MR CONNOLLY: Indeed, Mr Kaine. Well you might. (Extension of time granted) I thank the house; that is most gracious.
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