Page 537 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 19 May 1992
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I present the following paper:
Conference of Commonwealth and State Labour Ministers - Ministerial statement, 19 May 1992.
Madam Speaker, I move:
That the Assembly takes note of the paper.
Debate (on motion by Mr De Domenico) adjourned.
HARE-CLARK ELECTORAL SYSTEM
Discussion of Matter of Public Importance
MADAM SPEAKER: I have received a letter from Mr Moore proposing that a matter of public importance be submitted to the Assembly for discussion, namely:
The need for the implementation of the Hare-Clark Electoral System to be carried out as soon as possible by providing the following terms of reference to the Australian Electoral Commission:
That the Australian Electoral Commission prepares for the ACT a proposal for implementing the Hare-Clark system as used in Tasmania, including
(a) a fair distribution of seats;
(b) "Robson rotation";
(c) "Countback"; and
(d) removal of the use of "how to vote" cards.
MR MOORE (3.13): Madam Speaker, in beginning my speech on the electoral system I point out that because of a minor mix-up I would like to adjust the wording of the matter of public importance in a minor way. I shall not seek leave to make the amendment, because I think it changes it in only a minor way. Instead of demanding of the Australian Electoral Commission, the first paragraph should read: "The need for the implementation of the Hare-Clark Electoral System to be carried out as soon as possible by inviting the Australian Electoral Commission to respond to the following terms of reference". Madam Speaker, at the end of this debate it is my intention to seek leave to put a motion to that effect. I am quite happy to distribute to members a copy of the motion that I intend to seek leave to put, should that be an appropriate move to make.
Madam Speaker, you can refer back to a number of matter of public importance debates on the electoral system during the last Assembly which were raised by members, particularly by me. I did so because I felt that one of the most important issues affecting the people of the ACT would be the electoral system under which this Assembly is elected. It seems to me that the people of the ACT have overwhelmingly rejected the Labor Party preference of single-member electorates in favour of a much fairer and much more appropriate system, a system of proportional representation, and the best worldwide system of proportional representation available is the system used in Tasmania.
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