The ACT Government and Opposition differed yesterday over the details of the ACT’s new electoral system.
However, they appear to agree on the general principles of turning the 1992 referendum result into law.
The Opposition spokesperson on electoral matters, Gary Humphries, issued yesterday the results of a working party into the electoral system.
It recommended no party boxes above the line. The system should be about voters, not party machines, deciding, it said. There should be no how-to-vote cards at polling booths.
The 1992 referendum approved 65-35 the Hare-Clark with Robson rotation electoral system. The three electorates for that have been drawn up, two with five members and one with seven members, but legislation for voting has not been passed.
The system allows parties to be grouped in columns, but there is rotation of names with party columns so that each candidate endorsed by a party would have access to the best spots on the same number of ballot papers _ thus in a five-member seat one voter might have a ballot paper with the Labor column showing Follett, Smith, Connolly, Jones, Lamont and another voters ballot paper would have Smith, Connolly, Follett, Lamont, Jones and so on.
The Chief Minister, Rosemary Follett, has pledged to implement the referendum result. However, she rejected the banning of how-to-vote cards within 100 metres of a booth.
“”Electors will be presented with a new ballot paper involving the rotation of names, the like of which has never been seen before in any ACT election,” she said. It was necessary to provide information to prevent confusion. Banning how-to-vote cards was a denial of free speech. The Liberals, who opposed the ban on political television advertising were hypocritical for suggesting it.
The Robson rotation is a threat to Labor’s factional and gender-equity system which relies heavily on an ordered ticket. The Liberals are worried that Labor will attempt to circumvent it by having an above-the-line party box for voters to tick. In the absence of a party order on all ballot papers and ready access to how-to-vote cards, voters would have to make up their own mind as to the order of preference they will give each individual candidate.
Ms Follett has repeatedly affirmed that she will implement the referendum result which did not provide for party votes. Independents Michael Moore and Helen Szuty have said they will vote against party-line voting. Independent Dennis Stevenson, who in this circumstance would hold the deciding vote, has not made his position clear. However, a party-vote system would probably disadvantage him as others would use abolish- no- and anti-self-government labels watering down his vote.
Mr Humphries criticised the Government for its tardiness in bringing a Bill to the Assembly.
The next election is to be held on the third Saturday in February, 1995.