Page 976 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 19 April 1994
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are frivolous or vexatious. Those are the very words that I am seeking to incorporate elsewhere in the Bill. If the commissioner has to exercise a discretion in respect of the enrolment of a person, why should he not be able to exercise the same discretion in respect of the enrolment of a party?
Question put:
That the amendment (Mr Humphries's) be agreed to.
The Assembly voted -
AYES, 8 NOES, 9
Mrs Carnell Mr Berry
Mr Cornwell Mr Connolly
Mr De Domenico Ms Ellis
Mr Humphries Ms Follett
Mr Kaine Mrs Grassby
Mr Moore Mr Lamont
Ms Szuty Ms McRae
Mr Westende Mr Stevenson
Mr Wood
Question so resolved in the negative.
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (8.27): Madam Speaker, I move the Government amendment No. 14, which has been circulated and reads:
14. Page 31, line 9, proposed new subsection 87(2), after paragraph (d), insert the following paragraph:
"(da) comprises the word 'Independent';".
The effect of this amendment is to put in a new paragraph 87(2)(da) with the intention of ensuring that a political party cannot be registered under the name "Independent". By that I mean the single word "Independent". I think this is pretty clear. If you have a political party you cannot entitle that party with the single word "Independent". That quite clearly is designed to mislead and misstates the situation.
MR HUMPHRIES (8.27): Madam Speaker, I do have some slight concern with this amendment. I looked up the word "comprises" in my dictionary - admittedly, it is the Oxford English Dictionary, not the Macquarie Dictionary - and it has two possible definitions. One is "consists of", which is the meaning I think the Chief Minister is intending; but it also means "includes". I do not think the Chief Minister means that a title including the word "Independent" should be excluded from registration - at least I assume that she does not. Mr Moore and Ms Szuty certainly would have some concern if that were the case. I am prepared to accept the Chief Minister's assurance - I suppose this can
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