Page 985 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 19 April 1994
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Mr Stevenson: It is best to take no notice of the people - not ask for one!
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, I do object to his constant interjections, and to the loudness with which he continues to address this chamber.
Mr Stevenson: My apologies, Madam Speaker. I have no-one else to do it for me.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Stevenson, I remind you of the standing orders that do require you not to interrupt a member.
Mr Stevenson: But it is difficult. I do not have another chance to have a say.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order!
MS FOLLETT: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have concluded my remarks on this matter. As I say, I do not have a strong view about the term of the Assembly. The original Bill contained what is now the norm for parliaments of our kind; but, clearly, that is not supported by a majority of members. I am happy to give way to that majority.
MR HUMPHRIES (8.59): Madam Speaker, I also want to comment briefly on some remarks Mr Stevenson made about his polling arrangements. First of all, I might have given Ms Follett the wrong impression when I said that there was a referendum in New South Wales which rejected four-year terms, thus suggesting that that was the only decision that they made. I think there were two referenda in New South Wales, and the first rejected the proposition and the second one accepted it. That is my understanding; but, as I say, that needs to be checked.
Mr Stevenson indicated that he has done some polling on the appropriate electoral system for the Territory. He talked a lot about sampling bias, the places, and the manner in which people ask questions. I suggest that there is another very important point, in addition to the question Ms Follett raised, about questions and the way in which they are drafted. Mr Stevenson showed me a copy of his press release in which he recorded the results of his poll that purported to show that people wanted a single electorate. He did not show me the questions that were asked. He showed me a press release which summarised the votes for three points of view. They were summarised roughly as follows: Support for the existing d'Hondt system, which was very negligible.
Mr Stevenson: Three per cent.
MR HUMPHRIES: Three per cent. The second was support for single-member electorates, which was about 10 per cent, I think. It was smallish, on Mr Stevenson's poll. The third issue or question that he put in his Dennis poll related to a proportional representation system in which the 17 candidates with the most votes win the seats. With great respect, Mr Stevenson was rolling two important issues in together - PR, plus the size of the electorate.
Mr Stevenson: But PR can be in one electorate. That is the key.
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