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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 05 Hansard (Friday, 14 May 2004) . . Page.. 2075 ..

the Democrats’ participation in the ACT electoral system, there has always been concern with the provisions in the act for ballot groups. There is an essential difference between a political party and a group of Independents, which is that a party consists of a number of people beyond its parliamentary representatives who contribute collectively to the policies and principles of that group and participate in some form of an internal party democracy to determine candidates and political platform.

The current provisions in the act do not effectively differentiate between political parties and ballot groups in their presentation on the ballot paper. This may mistakenly lead voters to believe that a ballot group is a political party and subject to the same internal controls, as well as external regulation and disclosure provisions. This amendment makes it clear that only a political party will be eligible to have a name recorded at the top of the ballot paper. However, it is my understanding that the Assembly will be retaining non-party groups tonight; therefore, a sitting Independent would still be able to stand in a separate column if they had somebody to run with. The only difference would be the absence of a name at the top of the column. That is my understanding of the votes that we are having tonight.

That being said, I do not believe that it is necessary to differentiate between sitting Independents and other Independents. There is a difference between ballot groups and non-party groups.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Ms Dundas has the call.

MS DUNDAS: We are retaining non-party groups, but I do not think it is necessary to maintain ballot groups. The Democrats believe the provision for ballot groups is unnecessary, so I am supporting this amendment.

Question put:

That Mr Stanhope’s amendment be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Amendment agreed to.

Question put:

That clause 10, as amended, be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

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