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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 4 Hansard (27 March) . . Page.. 931 ..
MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):
To give an illustration of that, just a couple of weeks ago there was an election in Queensland, where the ruling Labor Party secured, I think, on last count, 49 per cent of the primary vote yet it enjoys something like 75 per cent of the seats in the parliament. That would suggest to me that the ACT's electoral system, with a much greater accuracy in its representation of the vote cast by electors, is a far superior system.
Mr Kerrisk, to whom Ms Burke refers, has certainly made some very strong attacks on Hare-Clark. He said last week in an undated press release:
The Hare Clarke electoral system ... is a brutal one. Let's not mince words.
Mr Corbell: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. The question did not ask the Chief Minister to comment on the comments of Mr Kerrisk. It asked the Chief Minister to outline whether he was aware of any impediments in the Electoral Act which prevented women from being elected.
Mr Moore: Based on the comments of Mr Kerrisk.
Mr Corbell: No, not based on the comments of Mr Kerrisk. Mr Moore's interjection is highly disorderly. The question specifically related to the Chief Minister's responsibility as minister for women's affairs on any impediments in the Electoral Act relating to the election of women to this place. It was not related in any respect to Mr Kerrisk's comments.
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I have to correct Mr Corbell. I will read the question that was asked of me, because Ms Burke has provided it to me in writing:
... I refer to recent comments from the secretary of the ACT ALP, Mr Michael Kerrisk, and member for Ginninderra Mr Berry to the effect that the Hare-Clark electoral system is not fair to women.
If I cannot refer to the comments they have made, which has been asked of me in the question, how can I respond to the question in full?
MR SPEAKER: That is a fair point. Do you have a point of order, Mr Corbell?
Mr Corbell: The Chief Minister did not read out the question, which was: can the Chief Minister comment on any difficulties in the Electoral Act that would inhibit the election of women to the Assembly?
MR SPEAKER: It was prefaced by reference to remarks made by Mr Kerrisk and Mr Berry.
Mr Stanhope: No, it is an allegation.
MR SPEAKER: All right, but the fact is that the question mentioned their names and asked for comment. There is no point of order.
MR HUMPHRIES: I will again quote the words of Mr Kerrisk:
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