Page 4682 - Week 15 - Thursday, 16 December 1993
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The Bill does not substantially change the existing provisions of the Electoral Act 1992 beyond providing that a redistribution is to commence two years before the next election falls due, instead of the existing requirement that redistributions must be made within 12 months after each general election. Madam Speaker, the change in the timing of redistributions is a minor change from the referendum options description sheet, but it is more appropriate for a redistribution to be conducted roughly halfway through the life of an Assembly rather than immediately after an election when the Electoral Commission is heavily involved in completing the election process.
The Bill gives effect to the remaining principles that underpin the model proportional representation Hare-Clark system spelt out in the Commonwealth's referendum options description sheet. The following elements of the referendum options description sheet are implemented in the Bill. The Bill provides for the Hare-Clark method of distributing preferences and for the Robson rotation method of printing candidates names on ballot-papers.
Mr Humphries: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. The Chief Minister is misleading the Assembly by suggesting that her Bill provides for the Hare-Clark Robson rotation system. It is clearly a very dangerous misleading of the Assembly and I would ask that she withdraw.
MADAM SPEAKER: You cannot make that allegation unless you do it on a substantive motion, Mr Humphries. That is a spurious point of order. Continue, Chief Minister.
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, preferences must be indicated for at least as many candidates as there are vacancies in an electorate, with further preferences being optional. Casual vacancies in the Assembly are to be filled by a recount of the former member's ballot-papers. In addition to the variation in the timing of redistributions referred to earlier, the following additions to the referendum option are included in the Bill, which I believe improve on the system spelt out in the referendum option without detracting from the integrity of the Hare-Clark system. Madam Speaker, to give electors a greater freedom of choice, something that people opposite wish to deny them - - -
Mr Moore: I take a point of order, Madam Speaker. Mr Humphries raised the question of the Chief Minister misleading this house by the way she is presenting this material, and I think that he raised a very good point of order as far as that went. The misrepresentation that is presented by the Chief Minister here really requires some direction, I think, from the Chair telling her to actually come up with the truth.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Moore, you have been asked once before to withdraw an imputation that the Chief Minister was not telling the truth. I ask you to withdraw that final comment.
Mr Moore: I will withdraw the word "truth" and use instead "more accuracy".
Mr Berry: I do not think there is a point of order there, Madam Speaker. I have heard - - -
Mr Kaine: Well, sit down.
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