Page 545 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 19 May 1992
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One of the most important tasks that will need to be undertaken by the Australian Electoral Commission is the division of Canberra into a number of regional electorates. This task needs to be approached sensitively so that arbitrary boundaries are not imposed which would unnecessarily separate cohesive communities. Geographically defined areas of Canberra need to be seen as such within electoral boundaries. Weston Creek is a good example.
The Weston Creek community, although smaller than other geographical centres in Canberra, has considerable interest in the planning, health and education issues which affect it. It would be inappropriate for the electors of Weston Creek to elect some members, for example, to the electorate of central Canberra and other members, for example, to the electorate of Tuggeranong. The Electoral Commission needs to be given as much time as possible to consider possible electorate boundaries and to receive public input on those boundaries.
Canberra voters also have an expectation that Robson rotation will be a feature of the proportional representation Hare-Clark electoral system adopted for use in future ACT elections. By adopting Robson rotation, where candidates' names within party columns appear in a different order on different ballot-papers, voters effectively choose the people that they most want to represent them. Good parliamentary performance and representation can be rewarded and poor parliamentary performance and representation can result in a sitting member losing his or her seat. Party preselection processes become de-emphasised as all candidates must earn their right to be elected or re-elected.
As Mr Humphries has mentioned, to quote Senator Terry Aulich, "Robson rotation will make the Hare-Clark system the fairest in the world. The Hare-Clark system gives us a healthy balance between parties and individualism". The adoption of Robson rotation also means that the preparation of costly how-to-vote cards becomes unnecessary, all candidates being equally favoured on ballot-papers. When a member dies or resigns between elections the votes which elected him or her are re-examined and the available candidate with the largest proportion of next preferences is elected under a countback provision. The adoption of countback means that costly and potentially destabilising by-elections are avoided between elections.
Madam Speaker, the matter of public importance raised by Mr Moore today reminds us of our responsibility to voters in giving effect to their will for a proportional representation Hare-Clark system to be used in future ACT elections and raises a number of important issues to be considered by the Australian Electoral Commission. If there is no reason to delay, then this Assembly must put in train the procedures required to meet the expectations of Canberra voters; that is, to have the Hare-Clark electoral system in place, the new electorates well publicised, and all necessary public information campaigns completed before the ACT needs to go to the polls again.
The Chief Minister stated in her address that this Legislative Assembly has no control over the Australian Electoral Commission, although I believe that the foreshadowed motion, which has been circulated to members by Mr Moore, indicates that the Australian Electoral Commission has a role in providing the Legislative Assembly with advice only.
MADAM SPEAKER: The discussion is concluded.
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