Page 1227 - Week 04 - Thursday, 21 April 1994
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You talk about democracy. I think that was your closing statement. Is it democracy to let the party machine decide, or should we let the people decide? I suggest, Mr Stevenson, that you do a rethink. I think even you would agree that I am not altogether stupid. I might be stupid in some aspects, but I am not altogether stupid.
Mr Stevenson: I have never said that in any case.
MR WESTENDE: No, I did not say that you said that. I am suggesting to you, at this late stage, that you should rethink. I think I have enough nous - perhaps not political nous - to realise that true democracy is giving people what they want. What the people want is Hare-Clark, because that is what they all voted for. People neither need nor want how-to-vote cards. With Robson rotation it is all about the individual politician. That is what they want to vote for - not party politics; not party machines. Let the people decide. They do not want interference from the party. They do not want interference from the backroom boys. They do not want interference from the financial supporters of the party. They want to make the decision themselves. With Robson rotation there is no donkey vote just because one person is No. 1 and another person is No. 2. The ballot-papers are rotated and different names appear on the top at different stages. This is the way to let the people decide. They will not get confused. Those people who want Mr X will vote for Mr X whether he appears at 1, 2 or 3 on the party ticket.
I appeal to Mr Stevenson even at this late stage. He should not be blinkered. If you talk about democracy and about people's choice, then, really, the Hare-Clark system with Robson rotation - especially the Robson rotation section of the system - gives true democracy for the voter. As I said, I have talked to quite a few people. I make it a habit.
Mr Berry: Lou, you do not believe this.
MR WESTENDE: I do believe that.
Mrs Grassby: You would not have got here without a party ticket, Lou.
MR WESTENDE: I was No. 6 on the party ticket and still got in, when everybody said that we would get only four in. So I would not be too sure, madam. We needed a party ticket only because you had one, and at least we had enough sense to change. Success comes to people when they know that they should change. If we had a party ticket the last time, at least we do not have one this time, because we know that the people have decided that they want a choice. Sixty-eight per cent plus decided on Robson rotation, and that automatically meant no how-to-vote cards. I appeal to all of you, but especially to Dennis, to rethink and to support Mr Humphries's amendment.
MR STEVENSON (5.35): I find some irony in members talking about giving the people what they wanted after no-one stood up and fought for the right of the people to choose one electorate with Hare-Clark. When people voted for the bottom question or the top question in the 1992 referendum the questions were rotated on the ballot-papers. When they chose other than single-member electorates they got everything that went with that, except that we did not get the formal vote being 1 to 7, or 1 to 5. They did not get everything because some of the things were not mentioned. In respect of those things that were mentioned and that we surveyed, I will simply do as I am instructed.
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