❓ Ms. Davies questions the Premier regarding the speed and lack of consultation surrounding the Constitutional and Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Equality) Bill 2021. The Premier rejects the premise, citing extensive debate, briefings, and an inquiry.
AnsweredQoN 591Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CONSTITUTIONAL AND
ELECTORAL LEGISLATIONAMENDMENT (ELECTORAL EQUALITY) BILL 2021 — TIME
LIMIT
591. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I
refer to the electoral reform legislation that the Premier denied was on the
agenda before the election, that he refused to allow a parliamentary
committee to review the detail of, and refused to allow the people of Western Australia
to have a say on via a referendum and is gagging debate after only two days of
discussion in this chamber. What explanation can the Premier offer for failing
to meet his own promise to deliver a gold standard of transparency in
government and is, instead, allowing the bill to be rushed through and is
gagging debate and not giving appropriate consideration of something that will
change the way that people elect representatives to this Parliament?
ELECTORAL LEGISLATIONAMENDMENT (ELECTORAL EQUALITY) BILL 2021 — TIME
LIMIT
591. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I
refer to the electoral reform legislation that the Premier denied was on the
agenda before the election, that he refused to allow a parliamentary
committee to review the detail of, and refused to allow the people of Western Australia
to have a say on via a referendum and is gagging debate after only two days of
discussion in this chamber. What explanation can the Premier offer for failing
to meet his own promise to deliver a gold standard of transparency in
government and is, instead, allowing the bill to be rushed through and is
gagging debate and not giving appropriate consideration of something that will
change the way that people elect representatives to this Parliament?
AnswerView source ↗
I reject every premise of that
question—every premise. I am advised that there has been at least 15
hours of debate in this chamber, much of
which has been repetitive by the opposition. But the minister has handled it
superbly and has provided advice to the opposition that has been very
straightforward and clear. The opposition was given briefings on the bill.
There was a full inquiry before the bill was brought in to which the opposition
and anyone in Western Australia could have put in a submission. Many
submissions were put to that inquiry. The inquiry recommended an outcome, and
that outcome is the one the government endorsed and has drafted legislation accordingly. If and when the bill passes this
house, it will go to the upper house, where I am sure there will be fulsome debate as well. After that, if there are any amendments, it will come back here
for further debate. That is the parliamentary process.
That is a lot of debate. If we
compare debate on bills in this Parliament with that in other Parliaments, the
amount of time spent debating legislation is far longer and far greater in this
Parliament than other Parliaments around Australia. Just so that members know,
when I first came to this place, time management was a regular occurrence; in fact, on a weekly basis. When I first came to
this Parliament, Colin Barnett stood right here. He was the Leader of the
House at that time and time management was a weekly occurrence, every single
week. Sitting here all night was a weekly occurrence as well. I thought it was
just normal and that that was what Parliaments did. These days, it is a little bit rare, which is a good thing.
But, at the same time, there has been fulsome debate, and 15 hours is a long
time in which members can make their points, whatever they may be, and the
Attorney General has answered them.
question—every premise. I am advised that there has been at least 15
hours of debate in this chamber, much of
which has been repetitive by the opposition. But the minister has handled it
superbly and has provided advice to the opposition that has been very
straightforward and clear. The opposition was given briefings on the bill.
There was a full inquiry before the bill was brought in to which the opposition
and anyone in Western Australia could have put in a submission. Many
submissions were put to that inquiry. The inquiry recommended an outcome, and
that outcome is the one the government endorsed and has drafted legislation accordingly. If and when the bill passes this
house, it will go to the upper house, where I am sure there will be fulsome debate as well. After that, if there are any amendments, it will come back here
for further debate. That is the parliamentary process.
That is a lot of debate. If we
compare debate on bills in this Parliament with that in other Parliaments, the
amount of time spent debating legislation is far longer and far greater in this
Parliament than other Parliaments around Australia. Just so that members know,
when I first came to this place, time management was a regular occurrence; in fact, on a weekly basis. When I first came to
this Parliament, Colin Barnett stood right here. He was the Leader of the
House at that time and time management was a weekly occurrence, every single
week. Sitting here all night was a weekly occurrence as well. I thought it was
just normal and that that was what Parliaments did. These days, it is a little bit rare, which is a good thing.
But, at the same time, there has been fulsome debate, and 15 hours is a long
time in which members can make their points, whatever they may be, and the
Attorney General has answered them.
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