❓ Question regarding proposed local government reforms, specifically preferential voting, and whether it's a solution to a non-existent problem. The Minister's answer defends the reforms, criticises the opposition's past record, and argues for the need for change due to low vote share elections.
AnsweredQoN 750Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM
750. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the minister's
reform proposals announced yesterday and to the strong negative reaction from
Mayor Tracey Roberts, the president of the Western Australian Local Government Association,
who said —
''The sector's
position is clear: first-past-the-post has historically worked well.
Preferential voting could complicate a system that has been well-run,'' �
Is the proposed introduction of
preferential voting just another case of this government providing a solution
to a problem that does not exist?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Wanneroo!
750. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the minister's
reform proposals announced yesterday and to the strong negative reaction from
Mayor Tracey Roberts, the president of the Western Australian Local Government Association,
who said —
''The sector's
position is clear: first-past-the-post has historically worked well.
Preferential voting could complicate a system that has been well-run,'' �
Is the proposed introduction of
preferential voting just another case of this government providing a solution
to a problem that does not exist?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Wanneroo!
AnswerView source ↗
I wish to thank the member for his
question. These are the most significant reforms to local government in 25 years.
Let us compare and contrast the records. That side and the Nationals WA, who
are like a puppy dog who turns over and we will give them a little tickle on
their tummy, allowed the Liberal leadership to drive forced council
amalgamations—the worst reform delivery ever! It was the worst reform
delivery ever. It was a complete stuff-up that was condemned by all local
governments and was a complete failure. It was never delivered, and the
Nationals just rolled over and did what their Liberal masters told them to do.
They just rolled over.
Several members interjected.
Mr J.N. CAREY : Member for
North West Central, I do not know who told you to be yourself, but they gave
you very bad advice!
Dr D.J. Honey : It's
just gratuitous personal insults; that's what it is.
Mr J.N. CAREY : From the
member for Cottesloe, who produces the most vile social media—deeply
personal attacks—who came into this
chamber when he was first elected and said that he was going to lift the
standards, then at every opportunity in his social media uses right-wing
young Liberals to undertake vile attacks on ministers!
Mr V.A. Catania : Point of
order, Madam Speaker. The Minister for Local Government —
The SPEAKER : Do not speak until you have been given the call
and people are quiet. The member for North West Central.
Point of Order
Mr V.A.
CATANIA : The Minister for Local Government is not answering the
question that was asked by the member for Moore. I ask you to direct him to
answer the question by the member for Moore.
The
SPEAKER : I think it is a fair point, but it is not a point of order.
Minister, I would perhaps direct you towards concluding your answer to the
question.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr J.N. CAREY : Maybe if they
did not interject all the time!
I
want to be very clear that this is one of the biggest reforms to local
government and it will bring significant oversight for dysfunctional local
government. But we also believe in democracy. We believe that the
first-past-the-post system is broken. It is not democratic and I will be
very clear: many candidates with less than 10 per cent of the vote were elected in the last election. The Nationals WA say
that that is fair. They say that is democratic. In fact, some candidates were elected with less than six per cent of the total votes. That is
incredible. I note that the member for Joondalup, a former Liberal minister —
Several members interjected.
Mr
J.N. CAREY : The Mayor of
Joondalup has come out to strongly endorse the proposal. That will provide a clear mandate, as opposed to the current farcical system whereby people are being
elected with less than six per cent of the total vote. I am very happy to stand
by the local government reforms that we are delivering that are needed and that
the opposition failed to do.
question. These are the most significant reforms to local government in 25 years.
Let us compare and contrast the records. That side and the Nationals WA, who
are like a puppy dog who turns over and we will give them a little tickle on
their tummy, allowed the Liberal leadership to drive forced council
amalgamations—the worst reform delivery ever! It was the worst reform
delivery ever. It was a complete stuff-up that was condemned by all local
governments and was a complete failure. It was never delivered, and the
Nationals just rolled over and did what their Liberal masters told them to do.
They just rolled over.
Several members interjected.
Mr J.N. CAREY : Member for
North West Central, I do not know who told you to be yourself, but they gave
you very bad advice!
Dr D.J. Honey : It's
just gratuitous personal insults; that's what it is.
Mr J.N. CAREY : From the
member for Cottesloe, who produces the most vile social media—deeply
personal attacks—who came into this
chamber when he was first elected and said that he was going to lift the
standards, then at every opportunity in his social media uses right-wing
young Liberals to undertake vile attacks on ministers!
Mr V.A. Catania : Point of
order, Madam Speaker. The Minister for Local Government —
The SPEAKER : Do not speak until you have been given the call
and people are quiet. The member for North West Central.
Point of Order
Mr V.A.
CATANIA : The Minister for Local Government is not answering the
question that was asked by the member for Moore. I ask you to direct him to
answer the question by the member for Moore.
The
SPEAKER : I think it is a fair point, but it is not a point of order.
Minister, I would perhaps direct you towards concluding your answer to the
question.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr J.N. CAREY : Maybe if they
did not interject all the time!
I
want to be very clear that this is one of the biggest reforms to local
government and it will bring significant oversight for dysfunctional local
government. But we also believe in democracy. We believe that the
first-past-the-post system is broken. It is not democratic and I will be
very clear: many candidates with less than 10 per cent of the vote were elected in the last election. The Nationals WA say
that that is fair. They say that is democratic. In fact, some candidates were elected with less than six per cent of the total votes. That is
incredible. I note that the member for Joondalup, a former Liberal minister —
Several members interjected.
Mr
J.N. CAREY : The Mayor of
Joondalup has come out to strongly endorse the proposal. That will provide a clear mandate, as opposed to the current farcical system whereby people are being
elected with less than six per cent of the total vote. I am very happy to stand
by the local government reforms that we are delivering that are needed and that
the opposition failed to do.
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