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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 12 Hansard (13 November) . . Page.. 4164 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

carried because we think it is a reduction in security at the poll, although we understand that the numbers here would support the amendment. We understand, too, that the Electoral Commissioner is in favour of it because there are some administrative savings which, like any good bureaucrat, he should pursue; but I have some reservations about anything which reduces security at the poll.

I know also that there is a similar practice occurring in other States. There have been elections there and, as far as I am aware, there have been no reports of difficulties with the procedure. In any event, it is something that I am reserved about because I think the security of polling places should be paramount. There should be no relaxation or invitation to unscrupulous people to abuse the system. That is not to say that that will be the case, but there are always bright minds around who can work their way around these things. As I say, I am very reserved about this provision. Other than those comments, I have nothing further to say in opposition to the Bill.

MS TUCKER (7.44): I will speak to the in-principle part of this Bill, and I will also foreshadow the amendments that I was proposing to put; but I will not put them now because I know that there is not sufficient support for them at this point in the Assembly.

Mr Berry: Test the water, you wimp. Come on, have a go.

MS TUCKER: I should test the water, you think, Mr Berry. Basically, the Greens will be supporting - - -

Mr Moore: She can count. The one thing she has learnt in these last three years is how to count. Isn't that right, Ms Tucker?

MS TUCKER: That is right.

Mr Berry: You have to steel the spine. You have to go through a humiliating defeat or two.

MS TUCKER: A humiliating defeat? Mr Speaker, Mr Berry thinks I need a humiliating defeat. I was knocked back 2 : 15 today, or was it 2 : 13? I think we have had a humiliating defeat. But we were standing on the side of right, of course, so it was not humiliating at all. We were right. History will show that, of course.

We are supporting this Bill, and we were going to be proposing an amendment but we will not. Basically, this Bill implements the recommendations made by the ACT Electoral Commission in its report on the operation of the ACT's electoral legislation following the 1995 ACT election. The review recommended that the commission have a greater degree of independence from the government. It also recommended a range of amendments to the Electoral Act to improve the process of conducting elections. This Bill largely reflects the commission's recommendations, which seem quite reasonable, and will enhance the ACT's electoral system. I also note that Mr Humphries consulted with non-Government MLAs some months ago about the proposed amendments to the Electoral Act, which was a good approach which hopefully should ensure a smooth passage of the Bill through the Assembly.

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