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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 6 Hansard (15 June) . . Page.. 1915 ..

MR HARGREAVES (continuing):

The arguments put forward earlier centred on rorts that people try to obtain for themselves when they get in here. This parliament has enjoyed a very poor reputation since we have been here. I think our reputation has been enhanced a bit in the last three years or so, even though I think it could be a bit better. If it has not been enhanced, it is because of the black handkerchief brigade who sit there and say, "Convince me." They do not participate. They do not come into this chamber and put their five bobs worth into debate. Only when it looks as though their perks are going to be removed do they get up on their high heels and say something.

They do not participate well in committees. Again, they sit there with the black handkerchief on their heads saying, "I will listen and do absolutely nothing." I did not criticise Mrs Burke's work ethic in the Estimates Committee. I criticised her relationship with her party machine, but I did not criticise her involvement. She asked a number of questions. I did not like the questions she asked, but that is not my problem.

Mr Moore: Mr Speaker, I take a point of order on the grounds of relevancy.

MR SPEAKER: Indeed, but I am sure that Mr Hargreaves is coming back to the point.

MR HARGREAVES: The point was that this parliament does not enjoy a great reputation. Mrs Burke made much of that in her attempt to table her dissenting report. If people want to participate in the political process, they have to have a high regard for the institution of parliament and they have to want to exercise their vote. If we stick hurdles in the way of them being able to exercise their vote, then they are not going to be bothered. If we make a mockery of this parliament, they are not going to be bothered. I support Mr Stanhope. This legislation puts a hurdle in their way. I think we should not go along with that hurdle.

MR STEFANIAK (Minister for Education and Attorney-General) (8.18): Mr Speaker, I want to speak again on this. I do not normally do this. I see a real problem if Mr Stanhope's comments get up. I mentioned earlier that I did not see a huge problem with donations in this country. I honestly cannot think of any instances where they have been a problem. However, we have had instances of electoral fraud-people on the electoral roll who should not have been there.

In the 1995 election I saw three young blokes vote at Spence at about 3.30. In those days we had how-to-vote cards. I went from Spence to the Charnwood booth. At 4.30 these same people turned up. I said to one of our workers, "Go in and tell the electoral officials." They did, the people were questioned and they did not vote again. I do not know who they were voting for. Good heavens, they might have been voting for me, but they should not have been. Something was going on there. I do not think anything happened to those people. They just left the scene and nothing was done. But we have seen instances of electoral fraud in Australia.

The Electoral Act 1992 states in section 76, at subsection (3):

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