Page 540 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 19 May 1992
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The next point I think is the most critical of all as far as the Hare-Clark system goes, and I refer to Robson rotation. The reason why Robson rotation is critical to our electoral system is that it moves some of the power as to who is elected away from the party machine and back to the people who are voting. That is a very critical fact, in emphasis rather than in black and white. Many of these things, of course, would be very easy to argue in black and white. I suppose that in many ways the proportional representation system and single-member electorate debate did get into black and white. With Robson rotation there is more emphasis on where the power goes. Of course, the parties will still select or preselect who is going to be on that ticket; it is just that they will not be able to position them on the ticket. Therefore, I think that the Hare-Clark system, as people understood it, included Robson rotation as it is an integral part of the Hare-Clark system as used in Tasmania.
Another integral part of that electoral system used in Tasmania is the system of countback. Many of us who were here in the First Assembly recall when Mr Whalan resigned. The method of choosing a replacement for Mr Whalan was for the Labor Party to select his replacement. In fact, they selected a fine member, Mr Terry Connolly, who is the only person so far to have performed in this Assembly without first being elected. Now that he has been elected and recognised by the people of the ACT he probably feels much more comfortable.
Of course, that system also applies currently. Should any member resign - should Mr Lamont, for example, resign or for some other reason not be able to perform his duty, perhaps through mental failure - - -
Mr Lamont: Resign? Heaven forbid! I would join the Independents first, Michael.
MR MOORE: I withdraw that, Madam Speaker. I withdraw "mental failure" because I do not see how that is possible. I withdraw any imputation.
Mr Lamont: That saves me rising to my feet. If that were to be the case, I would end up being on Michael Moore's team.
MR MOORE: Indeed. No doubt he would be welcomed with open arms. Perhaps he could be offered something like a ministry when we get enough defectors. Defectors? What a terrible word. Do you keep a diary?
Mr Lamont: An electronic one.
MR MOORE: I thought I had better ask before there was any movement.
Madam Speaker, the point about the countback system is that, instead of the party or grouping selecting the replacement for somebody who is not able to continue their function, for whatever reason, whoever would have been next to be elected under the proportional system - basically the eighteenth member who would have been elected - would become the member. Similarly, if that person was not able to fulfil their function, we would look back at the results and it would be whoever was nineteenth in the system. Therefore, I think we would have a far fairer system that applied as an integral part of that Hare-Clark system.
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