Page 4833 - Week 15 - Thursday, 8 December 1994
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Mr De Domenico: Then what happened?
MR HUMPHRIES: And then what happened? On this day last year, exactly what I had accused the Chief Minister of contemplating happened. Madam Speaker, I think we are entitled to make the assumption that this Government believes strongly enough in those principles to do so again, if it had an unfettered opportunity. But I also accept that this is an important issue, which needs to be dealt with by way of referral to the people of Canberra.
I am not suggesting that we have all the knowledge on this question and that we are absolutely correct. Maybe the principles are not quite right. Maybe we have got things wrong in some way. I think that the people of the ACT should have the chance to decide whether it is right or wrong. If we have not got it all right, if we have missed out something important or we have put in something which should not be in there, then the only option that people have available to them is to vote no. But, Madam Speaker, I am confident that the people of the ACT will support the principles we have put forward, with the amendments moved by the Government, as fully as they did in 1992. I am sure that that required majority of electors will be forthcoming, because people realise - indeed, many Labor voters realise - that that is the fairest system. Madam Speaker, I commend this Bill to the house.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Detail Stage
Clauses 1 to 3, by leave, taken together, and agreed to.
Clause 4
MR HUMPHRIES (4.36): I move:
That clause 4 be omitted and the following clause substituted:
Entrenchment of electoral system
"4. This Act applies to any law that is inconsistent with any of the following principles of the proportional representation (Hare-Clark) electoral system:
(a) at a general election, an odd number of members of the Legislative Assembly shall be elected from each electorate;
(b) at a general election, at least 5 members of the Legislative Assembly shall be elected from each electorate;
(c) each voter has the right to a fully preferential vote;
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