Page 3387 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 24 November 1992
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electorates, it would require 17 per cent, approximately, or 12 per cent of people voting for a member. That gives great glee to ALP members in this Assembly, and perhaps others; but we know that in the past there were surprises for members opposite. Who knows, there may be a surprise early in 1995 as well.
MR MOORE (9.53): I still find it ironic, because Mr Stevenson was pictured again and again in the newspaper with the Hare-Clark campaign committee. If my recollection serves me, there was never any suggestion by Mr Stevenson prior to the referendum that this other option should be included in the referendum. It appears to be a case of Mr Stevenson being struck by the idea, like St Paul was struck by lightning.
MR STEVENSON (9.53): I have not the faintest understanding of why Mr Moore would say that I was pictured again and again with - what did you say?
Mr Moore: The Hare-Clark campaign committee.
MR STEVENSON: I said all along that Hare-Clark would easily get up and that they did not need to spend all the time on it. I used to get people on the committee saying, "Well, I hope you are right". I said, "Look, we have surveyed it. If you are only going to ask those questions, there is no problem at all; it is a walk-up start". We get members in the Assembly saying that the people of Canberra overwhelmingly voted for three electorates. Well, they say Hare-Clark, but it was actually three electorates over 17 electorates. That was going to be obvious.
The point I make again is this: Why were they not given the opportunity of voting for the electoral system that they would rather have if they were going to have an electoral system?
Mr Lamont: They did. Eighty-seven per cent of the population voted against the Abolish Self Government Coalition.
Mr Humphries: Actually it was 93 per cent.
MR STEVENSON: He is not too good on his maths, for a start.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order!
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (9.55): I am very pleased to say that not only did I support the idea of having a referendum to choose the ACT's electoral system but I actively sought it. I still believe that it was the correct method for making this decision. The irony is that Mr Stevenson, who has been "Mr Referendum" to this point, is now denying that it is a legitimate expression of the will of the people.
Mr Stevenson: Talk about misrepresentation!
Mr Berry: I take a point of order, Madam Speaker. I think it was unparliamentary for Mr Stevenson to allege misrepresentation.
Mr Stevenson: Allege?
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