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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 4 Hansard (29 March) . . Page.. 1130 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

In recognition of the greater complexity of the process of printing, 420 versions of the 7 member electorate ballot paper, the accompanying Electoral Amendment Bill (No 2) also includes a measure to close nominations one day earlier to allow more time for typesetting, proof-reading and printing more versions of the ballot papers.

The Government gratefully acknowledges the contributions of Ken Brewer, Miko Kirschbaum and the Electoral Commissioner, Phillip Green, in devising the expanded tables included in this Bill.

As the changes to the Robson rotation tables set out in this Bill are inconsistent with Schedule 2 of the Electoral Act as in force on 1 December 1994, this Bill is a law to which the Proportional Representation (Hare-Clark) Entrenchment Act 1994 applies. Consequently this Bill cannot take effect unless it as passed by at least a 2/3 majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly, or by a majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly and a majority of electors at a referendum.

This Bill will serve to remove a minor flaw in the ACT's Hare-Clark electoral system and cement its reputation as one of the fairest electoral systems available.

Debate (on motion by Mr Stanhope ) adjourned to the next sitting.

Electoral Amendment Bill 2001 (No 2)

Mr Stefaniak, pursuant to notice, presented the bill and its explanatory memorandum.

Title read by Clerk.

MR STEFANIAK (Minister for Education and Attorney-General) (10.49): I move:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

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

Leave granted.

The speech read as follows:

OUTLINE

This Bill provides for amendments to the Electoral Act 1992 to facilitate the increase in the number of Robson rotation versions of the ballot papers to be printed for a Legislative Assembly election to be made under the Electoral (Entrenched Provisions) Amendment Bill 2001.

This Bill has been presented separately from the Electoral (Entrenched Provisions) Amendment Bill 2001 as that Bill deals with Schedule 2 of the Electoral Act as in force on 1 December 1994, which is a provision entrenched under the Proportional Representation (Hare-Clark) Entrenchment Act 1994. The provisions dealt with in this Bill are not entrenched. Enacting the two Bills separately will ensure that there is no uncertainty as to the effect of the Proportional Representation (Hare-Clark) Entrenchment Act 1994 on the Robson rotation provisions.

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