Page 3367 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 24 November 1992
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MR MOORE (8.42): I am supporting the approach taken by Ms Szuty in opposing this. She has pointed out to me, very sensibly, I believe, that it will narrow the scope of the report. I think we had from Ms Follett a short while ago a very good example of what might be coming to the Assembly in part two of the electoral legislation. I accept that Mr Humphries argues that clause 7 of this Bill will include that whole range of things that Ms Follett read out, but I think that by this amendment we would change the whole tone of it. The implications are that you really have to report on only what is in this Act. I believe that by saying "the activities of the Electoral Commission" we will broaden it to take into account all those parts of the Act and any other activities - for example, education activities - that the commission takes on. I think it is very important that the commission understand when preparing its annual report that the Assembly is interested in the whole range of its activities.
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (8.43): Madam Speaker, the Government will not be supporting this amendment moved by Mr Humphries, largely for the reasons that have been outlined by Mr Moore and Ms Szuty. I believe that the commission should keep this Assembly informed in full of its activities. One of the activities that I am particularly keen to hear about relates to its educational role and its obligation to inform the community about electoral matters, and that is not, strictly speaking, encompassed in this Bill. I agree with the comments made, that Mr Humphries's amendment could well act to limit the reporting that the commission does rather than to broaden it. Madam Speaker, in the light of experience and perhaps in the light of further consideration of the matter, I may agree with Mr Humphries; but on my current reading of it my view is that he is actually limiting the amount of reporting that we might receive from the commission.
Amendment negatived.
Clause, as amended, agreed to.
Clause 11
Amendment (by Mr Humphries) agreed to:
Page 3, line 29, before "Commission" (wherever occurring) insert "Electoral".
MR HUMPHRIES (8.46): Madam Speaker, I move:
Page 3, line 31, after subclause (2) insert the following subclause:
"(2A) A person shall not be appointed as a member if the person -
(a) is, or has been at any time during the last 5 years, a member of a political party;
(b) has, at any time during the last 5 years, been a candidate in a general election of members of the Legislative Assembly or an election of members of a House of the Parliament of the Commonwealth, a State or another Territory; or
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