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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 10 Hansard (23 September) . . Page.. 3085 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

Further changes to the political party registration scheme will ensure that public money is not spent on advertising changes of addresses of party registered offices, while ensuring that all registered officers of political parties will be residents of the ACT who are eligible to vote for ACT elections. At present, any person of any age or address may be a registered officer for any ACT political party. The Bill also provides for the appointment of deputy registered officers by a party secretary where the registered officer is unable to carry out his or her duties. At present, only registered officers may appoint deputy registered officers, so that, if a registered officer was unable to carry out his or her duties, a party may be left without a registered officer at a crucial time. Other more technical amendments are intended to clarify various provisions in the Electoral Act to ensure that the electoral process operates smoothly.

Mr Speaker, this Electoral (Amendment) Bill will lead to further refinements in the ACT's Hare-Clark electoral system. This system is widely regarded as one of the most representative electoral systems in the world - even now, apparently, by the ACT Labor Party - and I am confident that these changes will lead to even better service to electors at future elections. I commend the Bill to the Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Mr Berry) adjourned.

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General) (10.49): Mr Speaker, I ask for leave to present the Legal Practitioners (Amendment) Bill (No. 2) 1997.

Leave granted.

MR HUMPHRIES: I present the Legal Practitioners (Amendment) Bill (No. 2) 1997, together with its explanatory memorandum and the explanatory memorandum for the Legal Practitioners (Consequential Amendments) Bill 1997.

Title read by Clerk.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I move:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

I seek leave to have my presentation speech incorporated in Hansard.

Leave not granted.

MR HUMPHRIES: Dear, oh dear; claims about not filibustering this week as well?

Ms McRae: Did we get a copy of this?

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