❓ Question regarding details of a deal between the Minister and the Greens (WA) concerning the One Vote One Value Bill, specifically the large-area allowance formula and its impact on electoral boundaries.
AnsweredQoN 91Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
The minister’s One Vote One Value Bill passed through this house on 7 April 2005. I understand that the minister has developed and delivered a new deal to win the support of the Greens (WA) in the upper house. Will the minister now release the details of that deal to the National Party and members of the public, including the electoral boundaries prepared by the Western Australian Electoral Commission? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
The discussions between various members of this Parliament have been ongoing with a view to finding something that is acceptable to an absolute majority of members of this Parliament, both in the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly. In recent days those discussions, particularly with the Greens but not exclusively, have, I believe, reached a stage at which we are on the verge of being able to say that we have a detailed agreement on how to proceed from here when the debate takes place in the Legislative Council. There are still some matters of detail that need to be attended to, but I am pleased to advise the house of the broad thrust of the understanding that is now in place and that I hope will result in the passage of this legislation through the Parliament during the next three and a half weeks. I guess the key elements to the agreement are, firstly, the question of how we should treat the vast areas, particularly the mining and pastoral areas, as members will be aware that the government gave a commitment that there would be five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region. The Greens (WA) indicated that they were not happy with putting a fence around the Mining and Pastoral Region. We have discussed a large-area allowance similar to that which was contained in the one vote, one value legislation three years ago and which is similar also to the measure that applies in Queensland regarding the replacement of the special protection for the Mining and Pastoral Region. It will be a formula of statewide application. It will not be confined to the Mining and Pastoral Region, but it will consequently produce five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region when the redistribution takes place. An opposition member interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Yes. The formula will apply to 1.5 per cent of the land area in those electorates that are larger than 100 000 square kilometres. In the previous legislation it was 0.5 per cent. We have agreed upon 1.5 per cent. My recollection is that the comparable figure on which this formula is based is two per cent. We have reached an agreement that is a variation of that percentage. It will deliver five seats to the Mining and Pastoral Region but will be a formula of universal application. Wherever the seat is, if it is larger than 100 000 square kilometres, it will benefit from this weighting formula. Some rough indicative work has been done on what the redistribution could look like. The five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region would all benefit from the large-area allowance. In other words, the small urban enclave in Kalgoorlie will no longer be an electorate in its own right; it will be required also to include a significant landmass. To answer the questions of member’s opposite, the indicative work we have done shows it will apply also to the electorate of Roe - from what we currently understand to be the seat of Roe - and possibly also the electorate of Moore. That will, of course, depend on exactly where the boundaries are ultimately drawn. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : And Merredin? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Not necessarily. Dr K.D. Hames : How many seats will that apply to? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me get to that. That is the most important point. The Greens are prepared to accept this formula because the Mining and Pastoral Region will no longer be ring-fenced and the formula will look after the vast and truly remote areas of the state and give some recognition of the vast landmass. The government got what it wanted - that is, the five seats in the 87 per cent of the state that is the Mining and Pastoral Region - and the Greens ended up with an objective formula that will deliver a system that is universal in its application to all large electorates. Another minor element is that the last time around we allowed those seats that were subject to the very large-area allowance to fall 20 per cent beneath the statewide quotient. We have agreed to reinsert that into the formula. Generally speaking it is a 10 per cent plus or minus formula. Electorates will be allowed to fall 20 per cent below the quota if they are subject to the allowance. That is designed to accommodate the truly vast and remote seats. The second issue I would like to report on to the Parliament is that to facilitate this system, and in recognition of the debate that has taken place in the Parliament and in the community, we are amenable to increasing the size of the Legislative Assembly by two seats. One of those seats would be located in the country and one would be located in the city. That will take off some pressure from the country areas that will lose one less seat than they would otherwise have lost as a result of increasing the Legislative Assembly from 57 to 59 seats. It will also reduce the statewide quotient in a way that I think will be of assistance by creating somewhat smaller seats than would otherwise be the case. The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: The discussions between various members of this Parliament have been ongoing with a view to finding something that is acceptable to an absolute majority of members of this Parliament, both in the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly. In recent days those discussions, particularly with the Greens but not exclusively, have, I believe, reached a stage at which we are on the verge of being able to say that we have a detailed agreement on how to proceed from here when the debate takes place in the Legislative Council. There are still some matters of detail that need to be attended to, but I am pleased to advise the house of the broad thrust of the understanding that is now in place and that I hope will result in the passage of this legislation through the Parliament during the next three and a half weeks. I guess the key elements to the agreement are, firstly, the question of how we should treat the vast areas, particularly the mining and pastoral areas, as members will be aware that the government gave a commitment that there would be five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region. The Greens (WA) indicated that they were not happy with putting a fence around the Mining and Pastoral Region. We have discussed a large-area allowance similar to that which was contained in the one vote, one value legislation three years ago and which is similar also to the measure that applies in Queensland regarding the replacement of the special protection for the Mining and Pastoral Region. It will be a formula of statewide application. It will not be confined to the Mining and Pastoral Region, but it will consequently produce five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region when the redistribution takes place. An opposition member interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Yes. The formula will apply to 1.5 per cent of the land area in those electorates that are larger than 100 000 square kilometres. In the previous legislation it was 0.5 per cent. We have agreed upon 1.5 per cent. My recollection is that the comparable figure on which this formula is based is two per cent. We have reached an agreement that is a variation of that percentage. It will deliver five seats to the Mining and Pastoral Region but will be a formula of universal application. Wherever the seat is, if it is larger than 100 000 square kilometres, it will benefit from this weighting formula. Some rough indicative work has been done on what the redistribution could look like. The five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region would all benefit from the large-area allowance. In other words, the small urban enclave in Kalgoorlie will no longer be an electorate in its own right; it will be required also to include a significant landmass. To answer the questions of member’s opposite, the indicative work we have done shows it will apply also to the electorate of Roe - from what we currently understand to be the seat of Roe - and possibly also the electorate of Moore. That will, of course, depend on exactly where the boundaries are ultimately drawn. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : And Merredin? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Not necessarily. Dr K.D. Hames : How many seats will that apply to? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me get to that. That is the most important point. The Greens are prepared to accept this formula because the Mining and Pastoral Region will no longer be ring-fenced and the formula will look after the vast and truly remote areas of the state and give some recognition of the vast landmass. The government got what it wanted - that is, the five seats in the 87 per cent of the state that is the Mining and Pastoral Region - and the Greens ended up with an objective formula that will deliver a system that is universal in its application to all large electorates. Another minor element is that the last time around we allowed those seats that were subject to the very large-area allowance to fall 20 per cent beneath the statewide quotient. We have agreed to reinsert that into the formula. Generally speaking it is a 10 per cent plus or minus formula. Electorates will be allowed to fall 20 per cent below the quota if they are subject to the allowance. That is designed to accommodate the truly vast and remote seats. The second issue I would like to report on to the Parliament is that to facilitate this system, and in recognition of the debate that has taken place in the Parliament and in the community, we are amenable to increasing the size of the Legislative Assembly by two seats. One of those seats would be located in the country and one would be located in the city. That will take off some pressure from the country areas that will lose one less seat than they would otherwise have lost as a result of increasing the Legislative Assembly from 57 to 59 seats. It will also reduce the statewide quotient in a way that I think will be of assistance by creating somewhat smaller seats than would otherwise be the case. The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
The discussions between various members of this Parliament have been ongoing with a view to finding something that is acceptable to an absolute majority of members of this Parliament, both in the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly. In recent days those discussions, particularly with the Greens but not exclusively, have, I believe, reached a stage at which we are on the verge of being able to say that we have a detailed agreement on how to proceed from here when the debate takes place in the Legislative Council. There are still some matters of detail that need to be attended to, but I am pleased to advise the house of the broad thrust of the understanding that is now in place and that I hope will result in the passage of this legislation through the Parliament during the next three and a half weeks. I guess the key elements to the agreement are, firstly, the question of how we should treat the vast areas, particularly the mining and pastoral areas, as members will be aware that the government gave a commitment that there would be five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region. The Greens (WA) indicated that they were not happy with putting a fence around the Mining and Pastoral Region. We have discussed a large-area allowance similar to that which was contained in the one vote, one value legislation three years ago and which is similar also to the measure that applies in Queensland regarding the replacement of the special protection for the Mining and Pastoral Region. It will be a formula of statewide application. It will not be confined to the Mining and Pastoral Region, but it will consequently produce five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region when the redistribution takes place. An opposition member interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Yes. The formula will apply to 1.5 per cent of the land area in those electorates that are larger than 100 000 square kilometres. In the previous legislation it was 0.5 per cent. We have agreed upon 1.5 per cent. My recollection is that the comparable figure on which this formula is based is two per cent. We have reached an agreement that is a variation of that percentage. It will deliver five seats to the Mining and Pastoral Region but will be a formula of universal application. Wherever the seat is, if it is larger than 100 000 square kilometres, it will benefit from this weighting formula. Some rough indicative work has been done on what the redistribution could look like. The five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region would all benefit from the large-area allowance. In other words, the small urban enclave in Kalgoorlie will no longer be an electorate in its own right; it will be required also to include a significant landmass. To answer the questions of member’s opposite, the indicative work we have done shows it will apply also to the electorate of Roe - from what we currently understand to be the seat of Roe - and possibly also the electorate of Moore. That will, of course, depend on exactly where the boundaries are ultimately drawn. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : And Merredin? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Not necessarily. Dr K.D. Hames : How many seats will that apply to? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me get to that. That is the most important point. The Greens are prepared to accept this formula because the Mining and Pastoral Region will no longer be ring-fenced and the formula will look after the vast and truly remote areas of the state and give some recognition of the vast landmass. The government got what it wanted - that is, the five seats in the 87 per cent of the state that is the Mining and Pastoral Region - and the Greens ended up with an objective formula that will deliver a system that is universal in its application to all large electorates. Another minor element is that the last time around we allowed those seats that were subject to the very large-area allowance to fall 20 per cent beneath the statewide quotient. We have agreed to reinsert that into the formula. Generally speaking it is a 10 per cent plus or minus formula. Electorates will be allowed to fall 20 per cent below the quota if they are subject to the allowance. That is designed to accommodate the truly vast and remote seats. The second issue I would like to report on to the Parliament is that to facilitate this system, and in recognition of the debate that has taken place in the Parliament and in the community, we are amenable to increasing the size of the Legislative Assembly by two seats. One of those seats would be located in the country and one would be located in the city. That will take off some pressure from the country areas that will lose one less seat than they would otherwise have lost as a result of increasing the Legislative Assembly from 57 to 59 seats. It will also reduce the statewide quotient in a way that I think will be of assistance by creating somewhat smaller seats than would otherwise be the case. The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
I guess the key elements to the agreement are, firstly, the question of how we should treat the vast areas, particularly the mining and pastoral areas, as members will be aware that the government gave a commitment that there would be five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region. The Greens (WA) indicated that they were not happy with putting a fence around the Mining and Pastoral Region. We have discussed a large-area allowance similar to that which was contained in the one vote, one value legislation three years ago and which is similar also to the measure that applies in Queensland regarding the replacement of the special protection for the Mining and Pastoral Region. It will be a formula of statewide application. It will not be confined to the Mining and Pastoral Region, but it will consequently produce five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region when the redistribution takes place. An opposition member interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Yes. The formula will apply to 1.5 per cent of the land area in those electorates that are larger than 100 000 square kilometres. In the previous legislation it was 0.5 per cent. We have agreed upon 1.5 per cent. My recollection is that the comparable figure on which this formula is based is two per cent. We have reached an agreement that is a variation of that percentage. It will deliver five seats to the Mining and Pastoral Region but will be a formula of universal application. Wherever the seat is, if it is larger than 100 000 square kilometres, it will benefit from this weighting formula. Some rough indicative work has been done on what the redistribution could look like. The five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region would all benefit from the large-area allowance. In other words, the small urban enclave in Kalgoorlie will no longer be an electorate in its own right; it will be required also to include a significant landmass. To answer the questions of member’s opposite, the indicative work we have done shows it will apply also to the electorate of Roe - from what we currently understand to be the seat of Roe - and possibly also the electorate of Moore. That will, of course, depend on exactly where the boundaries are ultimately drawn. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : And Merredin? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Not necessarily. Dr K.D. Hames : How many seats will that apply to? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me get to that. That is the most important point. The Greens are prepared to accept this formula because the Mining and Pastoral Region will no longer be ring-fenced and the formula will look after the vast and truly remote areas of the state and give some recognition of the vast landmass. The government got what it wanted - that is, the five seats in the 87 per cent of the state that is the Mining and Pastoral Region - and the Greens ended up with an objective formula that will deliver a system that is universal in its application to all large electorates. Another minor element is that the last time around we allowed those seats that were subject to the very large-area allowance to fall 20 per cent beneath the statewide quotient. We have agreed to reinsert that into the formula. Generally speaking it is a 10 per cent plus or minus formula. Electorates will be allowed to fall 20 per cent below the quota if they are subject to the allowance. That is designed to accommodate the truly vast and remote seats. The second issue I would like to report on to the Parliament is that to facilitate this system, and in recognition of the debate that has taken place in the Parliament and in the community, we are amenable to increasing the size of the Legislative Assembly by two seats. One of those seats would be located in the country and one would be located in the city. That will take off some pressure from the country areas that will lose one less seat than they would otherwise have lost as a result of increasing the Legislative Assembly from 57 to 59 seats. It will also reduce the statewide quotient in a way that I think will be of assistance by creating somewhat smaller seats than would otherwise be the case. The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
An opposition member interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Yes. The formula will apply to 1.5 per cent of the land area in those electorates that are larger than 100 000 square kilometres. In the previous legislation it was 0.5 per cent. We have agreed upon 1.5 per cent. My recollection is that the comparable figure on which this formula is based is two per cent. We have reached an agreement that is a variation of that percentage. It will deliver five seats to the Mining and Pastoral Region but will be a formula of universal application. Wherever the seat is, if it is larger than 100 000 square kilometres, it will benefit from this weighting formula. Some rough indicative work has been done on what the redistribution could look like. The five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region would all benefit from the large-area allowance. In other words, the small urban enclave in Kalgoorlie will no longer be an electorate in its own right; it will be required also to include a significant landmass. To answer the questions of member’s opposite, the indicative work we have done shows it will apply also to the electorate of Roe - from what we currently understand to be the seat of Roe - and possibly also the electorate of Moore. That will, of course, depend on exactly where the boundaries are ultimately drawn. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : And Merredin? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Not necessarily. Dr K.D. Hames : How many seats will that apply to? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me get to that. That is the most important point. The Greens are prepared to accept this formula because the Mining and Pastoral Region will no longer be ring-fenced and the formula will look after the vast and truly remote areas of the state and give some recognition of the vast landmass. The government got what it wanted - that is, the five seats in the 87 per cent of the state that is the Mining and Pastoral Region - and the Greens ended up with an objective formula that will deliver a system that is universal in its application to all large electorates. Another minor element is that the last time around we allowed those seats that were subject to the very large-area allowance to fall 20 per cent beneath the statewide quotient. We have agreed to reinsert that into the formula. Generally speaking it is a 10 per cent plus or minus formula. Electorates will be allowed to fall 20 per cent below the quota if they are subject to the allowance. That is designed to accommodate the truly vast and remote seats. The second issue I would like to report on to the Parliament is that to facilitate this system, and in recognition of the debate that has taken place in the Parliament and in the community, we are amenable to increasing the size of the Legislative Assembly by two seats. One of those seats would be located in the country and one would be located in the city. That will take off some pressure from the country areas that will lose one less seat than they would otherwise have lost as a result of increasing the Legislative Assembly from 57 to 59 seats. It will also reduce the statewide quotient in a way that I think will be of assistance by creating somewhat smaller seats than would otherwise be the case. The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : Yes. The formula will apply to 1.5 per cent of the land area in those electorates that are larger than 100 000 square kilometres. In the previous legislation it was 0.5 per cent. We have agreed upon 1.5 per cent. My recollection is that the comparable figure on which this formula is based is two per cent. We have reached an agreement that is a variation of that percentage. It will deliver five seats to the Mining and Pastoral Region but will be a formula of universal application. Wherever the seat is, if it is larger than 100 000 square kilometres, it will benefit from this weighting formula. Some rough indicative work has been done on what the redistribution could look like. The five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region would all benefit from the large-area allowance. In other words, the small urban enclave in Kalgoorlie will no longer be an electorate in its own right; it will be required also to include a significant landmass. To answer the questions of member’s opposite, the indicative work we have done shows it will apply also to the electorate of Roe - from what we currently understand to be the seat of Roe - and possibly also the electorate of Moore. That will, of course, depend on exactly where the boundaries are ultimately drawn. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : And Merredin? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Not necessarily. Dr K.D. Hames : How many seats will that apply to? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me get to that. That is the most important point. The Greens are prepared to accept this formula because the Mining and Pastoral Region will no longer be ring-fenced and the formula will look after the vast and truly remote areas of the state and give some recognition of the vast landmass. The government got what it wanted - that is, the five seats in the 87 per cent of the state that is the Mining and Pastoral Region - and the Greens ended up with an objective formula that will deliver a system that is universal in its application to all large electorates. Another minor element is that the last time around we allowed those seats that were subject to the very large-area allowance to fall 20 per cent beneath the statewide quotient. We have agreed to reinsert that into the formula. Generally speaking it is a 10 per cent plus or minus formula. Electorates will be allowed to fall 20 per cent below the quota if they are subject to the allowance. That is designed to accommodate the truly vast and remote seats. The second issue I would like to report on to the Parliament is that to facilitate this system, and in recognition of the debate that has taken place in the Parliament and in the community, we are amenable to increasing the size of the Legislative Assembly by two seats. One of those seats would be located in the country and one would be located in the city. That will take off some pressure from the country areas that will lose one less seat than they would otherwise have lost as a result of increasing the Legislative Assembly from 57 to 59 seats. It will also reduce the statewide quotient in a way that I think will be of assistance by creating somewhat smaller seats than would otherwise be the case. The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
Some rough indicative work has been done on what the redistribution could look like. The five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region would all benefit from the large-area allowance. In other words, the small urban enclave in Kalgoorlie will no longer be an electorate in its own right; it will be required also to include a significant landmass. To answer the questions of member’s opposite, the indicative work we have done shows it will apply also to the electorate of Roe - from what we currently understand to be the seat of Roe - and possibly also the electorate of Moore. That will, of course, depend on exactly where the boundaries are ultimately drawn. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : And Merredin? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Not necessarily. Dr K.D. Hames : How many seats will that apply to? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me get to that. That is the most important point. The Greens are prepared to accept this formula because the Mining and Pastoral Region will no longer be ring-fenced and the formula will look after the vast and truly remote areas of the state and give some recognition of the vast landmass. The government got what it wanted - that is, the five seats in the 87 per cent of the state that is the Mining and Pastoral Region - and the Greens ended up with an objective formula that will deliver a system that is universal in its application to all large electorates. Another minor element is that the last time around we allowed those seats that were subject to the very large-area allowance to fall 20 per cent beneath the statewide quotient. We have agreed to reinsert that into the formula. Generally speaking it is a 10 per cent plus or minus formula. Electorates will be allowed to fall 20 per cent below the quota if they are subject to the allowance. That is designed to accommodate the truly vast and remote seats. The second issue I would like to report on to the Parliament is that to facilitate this system, and in recognition of the debate that has taken place in the Parliament and in the community, we are amenable to increasing the size of the Legislative Assembly by two seats. One of those seats would be located in the country and one would be located in the city. That will take off some pressure from the country areas that will lose one less seat than they would otherwise have lost as a result of increasing the Legislative Assembly from 57 to 59 seats. It will also reduce the statewide quotient in a way that I think will be of assistance by creating somewhat smaller seats than would otherwise be the case. The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
Mr J.J.M. Bowler : And Merredin? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Not necessarily. Dr K.D. Hames : How many seats will that apply to? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me get to that. That is the most important point. The Greens are prepared to accept this formula because the Mining and Pastoral Region will no longer be ring-fenced and the formula will look after the vast and truly remote areas of the state and give some recognition of the vast landmass. The government got what it wanted - that is, the five seats in the 87 per cent of the state that is the Mining and Pastoral Region - and the Greens ended up with an objective formula that will deliver a system that is universal in its application to all large electorates. Another minor element is that the last time around we allowed those seats that were subject to the very large-area allowance to fall 20 per cent beneath the statewide quotient. We have agreed to reinsert that into the formula. Generally speaking it is a 10 per cent plus or minus formula. Electorates will be allowed to fall 20 per cent below the quota if they are subject to the allowance. That is designed to accommodate the truly vast and remote seats. The second issue I would like to report on to the Parliament is that to facilitate this system, and in recognition of the debate that has taken place in the Parliament and in the community, we are amenable to increasing the size of the Legislative Assembly by two seats. One of those seats would be located in the country and one would be located in the city. That will take off some pressure from the country areas that will lose one less seat than they would otherwise have lost as a result of increasing the Legislative Assembly from 57 to 59 seats. It will also reduce the statewide quotient in a way that I think will be of assistance by creating somewhat smaller seats than would otherwise be the case. The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : Not necessarily. Dr K.D. Hames : How many seats will that apply to? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me get to that. That is the most important point. The Greens are prepared to accept this formula because the Mining and Pastoral Region will no longer be ring-fenced and the formula will look after the vast and truly remote areas of the state and give some recognition of the vast landmass. The government got what it wanted - that is, the five seats in the 87 per cent of the state that is the Mining and Pastoral Region - and the Greens ended up with an objective formula that will deliver a system that is universal in its application to all large electorates. Another minor element is that the last time around we allowed those seats that were subject to the very large-area allowance to fall 20 per cent beneath the statewide quotient. We have agreed to reinsert that into the formula. Generally speaking it is a 10 per cent plus or minus formula. Electorates will be allowed to fall 20 per cent below the quota if they are subject to the allowance. That is designed to accommodate the truly vast and remote seats. The second issue I would like to report on to the Parliament is that to facilitate this system, and in recognition of the debate that has taken place in the Parliament and in the community, we are amenable to increasing the size of the Legislative Assembly by two seats. One of those seats would be located in the country and one would be located in the city. That will take off some pressure from the country areas that will lose one less seat than they would otherwise have lost as a result of increasing the Legislative Assembly from 57 to 59 seats. It will also reduce the statewide quotient in a way that I think will be of assistance by creating somewhat smaller seats than would otherwise be the case. The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
Dr K.D. Hames : How many seats will that apply to? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me get to that. That is the most important point. The Greens are prepared to accept this formula because the Mining and Pastoral Region will no longer be ring-fenced and the formula will look after the vast and truly remote areas of the state and give some recognition of the vast landmass. The government got what it wanted - that is, the five seats in the 87 per cent of the state that is the Mining and Pastoral Region - and the Greens ended up with an objective formula that will deliver a system that is universal in its application to all large electorates. Another minor element is that the last time around we allowed those seats that were subject to the very large-area allowance to fall 20 per cent beneath the statewide quotient. We have agreed to reinsert that into the formula. Generally speaking it is a 10 per cent plus or minus formula. Electorates will be allowed to fall 20 per cent below the quota if they are subject to the allowance. That is designed to accommodate the truly vast and remote seats. The second issue I would like to report on to the Parliament is that to facilitate this system, and in recognition of the debate that has taken place in the Parliament and in the community, we are amenable to increasing the size of the Legislative Assembly by two seats. One of those seats would be located in the country and one would be located in the city. That will take off some pressure from the country areas that will lose one less seat than they would otherwise have lost as a result of increasing the Legislative Assembly from 57 to 59 seats. It will also reduce the statewide quotient in a way that I think will be of assistance by creating somewhat smaller seats than would otherwise be the case. The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me get to that. That is the most important point. The Greens are prepared to accept this formula because the Mining and Pastoral Region will no longer be ring-fenced and the formula will look after the vast and truly remote areas of the state and give some recognition of the vast landmass. The government got what it wanted - that is, the five seats in the 87 per cent of the state that is the Mining and Pastoral Region - and the Greens ended up with an objective formula that will deliver a system that is universal in its application to all large electorates. Another minor element is that the last time around we allowed those seats that were subject to the very large-area allowance to fall 20 per cent beneath the statewide quotient. We have agreed to reinsert that into the formula. Generally speaking it is a 10 per cent plus or minus formula. Electorates will be allowed to fall 20 per cent below the quota if they are subject to the allowance. That is designed to accommodate the truly vast and remote seats. The second issue I would like to report on to the Parliament is that to facilitate this system, and in recognition of the debate that has taken place in the Parliament and in the community, we are amenable to increasing the size of the Legislative Assembly by two seats. One of those seats would be located in the country and one would be located in the city. That will take off some pressure from the country areas that will lose one less seat than they would otherwise have lost as a result of increasing the Legislative Assembly from 57 to 59 seats. It will also reduce the statewide quotient in a way that I think will be of assistance by creating somewhat smaller seats than would otherwise be the case. The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
Another minor element is that the last time around we allowed those seats that were subject to the very large-area allowance to fall 20 per cent beneath the statewide quotient. We have agreed to reinsert that into the formula. Generally speaking it is a 10 per cent plus or minus formula. Electorates will be allowed to fall 20 per cent below the quota if they are subject to the allowance. That is designed to accommodate the truly vast and remote seats. The second issue I would like to report on to the Parliament is that to facilitate this system, and in recognition of the debate that has taken place in the Parliament and in the community, we are amenable to increasing the size of the Legislative Assembly by two seats. One of those seats would be located in the country and one would be located in the city. That will take off some pressure from the country areas that will lose one less seat than they would otherwise have lost as a result of increasing the Legislative Assembly from 57 to 59 seats. It will also reduce the statewide quotient in a way that I think will be of assistance by creating somewhat smaller seats than would otherwise be the case. The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
The second issue I would like to report on to the Parliament is that to facilitate this system, and in recognition of the debate that has taken place in the Parliament and in the community, we are amenable to increasing the size of the Legislative Assembly by two seats. One of those seats would be located in the country and one would be located in the city. That will take off some pressure from the country areas that will lose one less seat than they would otherwise have lost as a result of increasing the Legislative Assembly from 57 to 59 seats. It will also reduce the statewide quotient in a way that I think will be of assistance by creating somewhat smaller seats than would otherwise be the case. The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: The discussions between various members of this Parliament have been ongoing with a view to finding something that is acceptable to an absolute majority of members of this Parliament, both in the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly. In recent days those discussions, particularly with the Greens but not exclusively, have, I believe, reached a stage at which we are on the verge of being able to say that we have a detailed agreement on how to proceed from here when the debate takes place in the Legislative Council. There are still some matters of detail that need to be attended to, but I am pleased to advise the house of the broad thrust of the understanding that is now in place and that I hope will result in the passage of this legislation through the Parliament during the next three and a half weeks. I guess the key elements to the agreement are, firstly, the question of how we should treat the vast areas, particularly the mining and pastoral areas, as members will be aware that the government gave a commitment that there would be five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region. The Greens (WA) indicated that they were not happy with putting a fence around the Mining and Pastoral Region. We have discussed a large-area allowance similar to that which was contained in the one vote, one value legislation three years ago and which is similar also to the measure that applies in Queensland regarding the replacement of the special protection for the Mining and Pastoral Region. It will be a formula of statewide application. It will not be confined to the Mining and Pastoral Region, but it will consequently produce five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region when the redistribution takes place. An opposition member interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Yes. The formula will apply to 1.5 per cent of the land area in those electorates that are larger than 100 000 square kilometres. In the previous legislation it was 0.5 per cent. We have agreed upon 1.5 per cent. My recollection is that the comparable figure on which this formula is based is two per cent. We have reached an agreement that is a variation of that percentage. It will deliver five seats to the Mining and Pastoral Region but will be a formula of universal application. Wherever the seat is, if it is larger than 100 000 square kilometres, it will benefit from this weighting formula. Some rough indicative work has been done on what the redistribution could look like. The five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region would all benefit from the large-area allowance. In other words, the small urban enclave in Kalgoorlie will no longer be an electorate in its own right; it will be required also to include a significant landmass. To answer the questions of member’s opposite, the indicative work we have done shows it will apply also to the electorate of Roe - from what we currently understand to be the seat of Roe - and possibly also the electorate of Moore. That will, of course, depend on exactly where the boundaries are ultimately drawn. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : And Merredin? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Not necessarily. Dr K.D. Hames : How many seats will that apply to? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me get to that. That is the most important point. The Greens are prepared to accept this formula because the Mining and Pastoral Region will no longer be ring-fenced and the formula will look after the vast and truly remote areas of the state and give some recognition of the vast landmass. The government got what it wanted - that is, the five seats in the 87 per cent of the state that is the Mining and Pastoral Region - and the Greens ended up with an objective formula that will deliver a system that is universal in its application to all large electorates. Another minor element is that the last time around we allowed those seats that were subject to the very large-area allowance to fall 20 per cent beneath the statewide quotient. We have agreed to reinsert that into the formula. Generally speaking it is a 10 per cent plus or minus formula. Electorates will be allowed to fall 20 per cent below the quota if they are subject to the allowance. That is designed to accommodate the truly vast and remote seats. The second issue I would like to report on to the Parliament is that to facilitate this system, and in recognition of the debate that has taken place in the Parliament and in the community, we are amenable to increasing the size of the Legislative Assembly by two seats. One of those seats would be located in the country and one would be located in the city. That will take off some pressure from the country areas that will lose one less seat than they would otherwise have lost as a result of increasing the Legislative Assembly from 57 to 59 seats. It will also reduce the statewide quotient in a way that I think will be of assistance by creating somewhat smaller seats than would otherwise be the case. The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
The discussions between various members of this Parliament have been ongoing with a view to finding something that is acceptable to an absolute majority of members of this Parliament, both in the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly. In recent days those discussions, particularly with the Greens but not exclusively, have, I believe, reached a stage at which we are on the verge of being able to say that we have a detailed agreement on how to proceed from here when the debate takes place in the Legislative Council. There are still some matters of detail that need to be attended to, but I am pleased to advise the house of the broad thrust of the understanding that is now in place and that I hope will result in the passage of this legislation through the Parliament during the next three and a half weeks. I guess the key elements to the agreement are, firstly, the question of how we should treat the vast areas, particularly the mining and pastoral areas, as members will be aware that the government gave a commitment that there would be five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region. The Greens (WA) indicated that they were not happy with putting a fence around the Mining and Pastoral Region. We have discussed a large-area allowance similar to that which was contained in the one vote, one value legislation three years ago and which is similar also to the measure that applies in Queensland regarding the replacement of the special protection for the Mining and Pastoral Region. It will be a formula of statewide application. It will not be confined to the Mining and Pastoral Region, but it will consequently produce five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region when the redistribution takes place. An opposition member interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Yes. The formula will apply to 1.5 per cent of the land area in those electorates that are larger than 100 000 square kilometres. In the previous legislation it was 0.5 per cent. We have agreed upon 1.5 per cent. My recollection is that the comparable figure on which this formula is based is two per cent. We have reached an agreement that is a variation of that percentage. It will deliver five seats to the Mining and Pastoral Region but will be a formula of universal application. Wherever the seat is, if it is larger than 100 000 square kilometres, it will benefit from this weighting formula. Some rough indicative work has been done on what the redistribution could look like. The five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region would all benefit from the large-area allowance. In other words, the small urban enclave in Kalgoorlie will no longer be an electorate in its own right; it will be required also to include a significant landmass. To answer the questions of member’s opposite, the indicative work we have done shows it will apply also to the electorate of Roe - from what we currently understand to be the seat of Roe - and possibly also the electorate of Moore. That will, of course, depend on exactly where the boundaries are ultimately drawn. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : And Merredin? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Not necessarily. Dr K.D. Hames : How many seats will that apply to? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me get to that. That is the most important point. The Greens are prepared to accept this formula because the Mining and Pastoral Region will no longer be ring-fenced and the formula will look after the vast and truly remote areas of the state and give some recognition of the vast landmass. The government got what it wanted - that is, the five seats in the 87 per cent of the state that is the Mining and Pastoral Region - and the Greens ended up with an objective formula that will deliver a system that is universal in its application to all large electorates. Another minor element is that the last time around we allowed those seats that were subject to the very large-area allowance to fall 20 per cent beneath the statewide quotient. We have agreed to reinsert that into the formula. Generally speaking it is a 10 per cent plus or minus formula. Electorates will be allowed to fall 20 per cent below the quota if they are subject to the allowance. That is designed to accommodate the truly vast and remote seats. The second issue I would like to report on to the Parliament is that to facilitate this system, and in recognition of the debate that has taken place in the Parliament and in the community, we are amenable to increasing the size of the Legislative Assembly by two seats. One of those seats would be located in the country and one would be located in the city. That will take off some pressure from the country areas that will lose one less seat than they would otherwise have lost as a result of increasing the Legislative Assembly from 57 to 59 seats. It will also reduce the statewide quotient in a way that I think will be of assistance by creating somewhat smaller seats than would otherwise be the case. The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
I guess the key elements to the agreement are, firstly, the question of how we should treat the vast areas, particularly the mining and pastoral areas, as members will be aware that the government gave a commitment that there would be five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region. The Greens (WA) indicated that they were not happy with putting a fence around the Mining and Pastoral Region. We have discussed a large-area allowance similar to that which was contained in the one vote, one value legislation three years ago and which is similar also to the measure that applies in Queensland regarding the replacement of the special protection for the Mining and Pastoral Region. It will be a formula of statewide application. It will not be confined to the Mining and Pastoral Region, but it will consequently produce five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region when the redistribution takes place. An opposition member interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Yes. The formula will apply to 1.5 per cent of the land area in those electorates that are larger than 100 000 square kilometres. In the previous legislation it was 0.5 per cent. We have agreed upon 1.5 per cent. My recollection is that the comparable figure on which this formula is based is two per cent. We have reached an agreement that is a variation of that percentage. It will deliver five seats to the Mining and Pastoral Region but will be a formula of universal application. Wherever the seat is, if it is larger than 100 000 square kilometres, it will benefit from this weighting formula. Some rough indicative work has been done on what the redistribution could look like. The five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region would all benefit from the large-area allowance. In other words, the small urban enclave in Kalgoorlie will no longer be an electorate in its own right; it will be required also to include a significant landmass. To answer the questions of member’s opposite, the indicative work we have done shows it will apply also to the electorate of Roe - from what we currently understand to be the seat of Roe - and possibly also the electorate of Moore. That will, of course, depend on exactly where the boundaries are ultimately drawn. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : And Merredin? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Not necessarily. Dr K.D. Hames : How many seats will that apply to? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me get to that. That is the most important point. The Greens are prepared to accept this formula because the Mining and Pastoral Region will no longer be ring-fenced and the formula will look after the vast and truly remote areas of the state and give some recognition of the vast landmass. The government got what it wanted - that is, the five seats in the 87 per cent of the state that is the Mining and Pastoral Region - and the Greens ended up with an objective formula that will deliver a system that is universal in its application to all large electorates. Another minor element is that the last time around we allowed those seats that were subject to the very large-area allowance to fall 20 per cent beneath the statewide quotient. We have agreed to reinsert that into the formula. Generally speaking it is a 10 per cent plus or minus formula. Electorates will be allowed to fall 20 per cent below the quota if they are subject to the allowance. That is designed to accommodate the truly vast and remote seats. The second issue I would like to report on to the Parliament is that to facilitate this system, and in recognition of the debate that has taken place in the Parliament and in the community, we are amenable to increasing the size of the Legislative Assembly by two seats. One of those seats would be located in the country and one would be located in the city. That will take off some pressure from the country areas that will lose one less seat than they would otherwise have lost as a result of increasing the Legislative Assembly from 57 to 59 seats. It will also reduce the statewide quotient in a way that I think will be of assistance by creating somewhat smaller seats than would otherwise be the case. The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
An opposition member interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Yes. The formula will apply to 1.5 per cent of the land area in those electorates that are larger than 100 000 square kilometres. In the previous legislation it was 0.5 per cent. We have agreed upon 1.5 per cent. My recollection is that the comparable figure on which this formula is based is two per cent. We have reached an agreement that is a variation of that percentage. It will deliver five seats to the Mining and Pastoral Region but will be a formula of universal application. Wherever the seat is, if it is larger than 100 000 square kilometres, it will benefit from this weighting formula. Some rough indicative work has been done on what the redistribution could look like. The five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region would all benefit from the large-area allowance. In other words, the small urban enclave in Kalgoorlie will no longer be an electorate in its own right; it will be required also to include a significant landmass. To answer the questions of member’s opposite, the indicative work we have done shows it will apply also to the electorate of Roe - from what we currently understand to be the seat of Roe - and possibly also the electorate of Moore. That will, of course, depend on exactly where the boundaries are ultimately drawn. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : And Merredin? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Not necessarily. Dr K.D. Hames : How many seats will that apply to? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me get to that. That is the most important point. The Greens are prepared to accept this formula because the Mining and Pastoral Region will no longer be ring-fenced and the formula will look after the vast and truly remote areas of the state and give some recognition of the vast landmass. The government got what it wanted - that is, the five seats in the 87 per cent of the state that is the Mining and Pastoral Region - and the Greens ended up with an objective formula that will deliver a system that is universal in its application to all large electorates. Another minor element is that the last time around we allowed those seats that were subject to the very large-area allowance to fall 20 per cent beneath the statewide quotient. We have agreed to reinsert that into the formula. Generally speaking it is a 10 per cent plus or minus formula. Electorates will be allowed to fall 20 per cent below the quota if they are subject to the allowance. That is designed to accommodate the truly vast and remote seats. The second issue I would like to report on to the Parliament is that to facilitate this system, and in recognition of the debate that has taken place in the Parliament and in the community, we are amenable to increasing the size of the Legislative Assembly by two seats. One of those seats would be located in the country and one would be located in the city. That will take off some pressure from the country areas that will lose one less seat than they would otherwise have lost as a result of increasing the Legislative Assembly from 57 to 59 seats. It will also reduce the statewide quotient in a way that I think will be of assistance by creating somewhat smaller seats than would otherwise be the case. The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : Yes. The formula will apply to 1.5 per cent of the land area in those electorates that are larger than 100 000 square kilometres. In the previous legislation it was 0.5 per cent. We have agreed upon 1.5 per cent. My recollection is that the comparable figure on which this formula is based is two per cent. We have reached an agreement that is a variation of that percentage. It will deliver five seats to the Mining and Pastoral Region but will be a formula of universal application. Wherever the seat is, if it is larger than 100 000 square kilometres, it will benefit from this weighting formula. Some rough indicative work has been done on what the redistribution could look like. The five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region would all benefit from the large-area allowance. In other words, the small urban enclave in Kalgoorlie will no longer be an electorate in its own right; it will be required also to include a significant landmass. To answer the questions of member’s opposite, the indicative work we have done shows it will apply also to the electorate of Roe - from what we currently understand to be the seat of Roe - and possibly also the electorate of Moore. That will, of course, depend on exactly where the boundaries are ultimately drawn. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : And Merredin? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Not necessarily. Dr K.D. Hames : How many seats will that apply to? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me get to that. That is the most important point. The Greens are prepared to accept this formula because the Mining and Pastoral Region will no longer be ring-fenced and the formula will look after the vast and truly remote areas of the state and give some recognition of the vast landmass. The government got what it wanted - that is, the five seats in the 87 per cent of the state that is the Mining and Pastoral Region - and the Greens ended up with an objective formula that will deliver a system that is universal in its application to all large electorates. Another minor element is that the last time around we allowed those seats that were subject to the very large-area allowance to fall 20 per cent beneath the statewide quotient. We have agreed to reinsert that into the formula. Generally speaking it is a 10 per cent plus or minus formula. Electorates will be allowed to fall 20 per cent below the quota if they are subject to the allowance. That is designed to accommodate the truly vast and remote seats. The second issue I would like to report on to the Parliament is that to facilitate this system, and in recognition of the debate that has taken place in the Parliament and in the community, we are amenable to increasing the size of the Legislative Assembly by two seats. One of those seats would be located in the country and one would be located in the city. That will take off some pressure from the country areas that will lose one less seat than they would otherwise have lost as a result of increasing the Legislative Assembly from 57 to 59 seats. It will also reduce the statewide quotient in a way that I think will be of assistance by creating somewhat smaller seats than would otherwise be the case. The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
Some rough indicative work has been done on what the redistribution could look like. The five seats in the Mining and Pastoral Region would all benefit from the large-area allowance. In other words, the small urban enclave in Kalgoorlie will no longer be an electorate in its own right; it will be required also to include a significant landmass. To answer the questions of member’s opposite, the indicative work we have done shows it will apply also to the electorate of Roe - from what we currently understand to be the seat of Roe - and possibly also the electorate of Moore. That will, of course, depend on exactly where the boundaries are ultimately drawn. Mr J.J.M. Bowler : And Merredin? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Not necessarily. Dr K.D. Hames : How many seats will that apply to? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me get to that. That is the most important point. The Greens are prepared to accept this formula because the Mining and Pastoral Region will no longer be ring-fenced and the formula will look after the vast and truly remote areas of the state and give some recognition of the vast landmass. The government got what it wanted - that is, the five seats in the 87 per cent of the state that is the Mining and Pastoral Region - and the Greens ended up with an objective formula that will deliver a system that is universal in its application to all large electorates. Another minor element is that the last time around we allowed those seats that were subject to the very large-area allowance to fall 20 per cent beneath the statewide quotient. We have agreed to reinsert that into the formula. Generally speaking it is a 10 per cent plus or minus formula. Electorates will be allowed to fall 20 per cent below the quota if they are subject to the allowance. That is designed to accommodate the truly vast and remote seats. The second issue I would like to report on to the Parliament is that to facilitate this system, and in recognition of the debate that has taken place in the Parliament and in the community, we are amenable to increasing the size of the Legislative Assembly by two seats. One of those seats would be located in the country and one would be located in the city. That will take off some pressure from the country areas that will lose one less seat than they would otherwise have lost as a result of increasing the Legislative Assembly from 57 to 59 seats. It will also reduce the statewide quotient in a way that I think will be of assistance by creating somewhat smaller seats than would otherwise be the case. The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
Mr J.J.M. Bowler : And Merredin? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Not necessarily. Dr K.D. Hames : How many seats will that apply to? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me get to that. That is the most important point. The Greens are prepared to accept this formula because the Mining and Pastoral Region will no longer be ring-fenced and the formula will look after the vast and truly remote areas of the state and give some recognition of the vast landmass. The government got what it wanted - that is, the five seats in the 87 per cent of the state that is the Mining and Pastoral Region - and the Greens ended up with an objective formula that will deliver a system that is universal in its application to all large electorates. Another minor element is that the last time around we allowed those seats that were subject to the very large-area allowance to fall 20 per cent beneath the statewide quotient. We have agreed to reinsert that into the formula. Generally speaking it is a 10 per cent plus or minus formula. Electorates will be allowed to fall 20 per cent below the quota if they are subject to the allowance. That is designed to accommodate the truly vast and remote seats. The second issue I would like to report on to the Parliament is that to facilitate this system, and in recognition of the debate that has taken place in the Parliament and in the community, we are amenable to increasing the size of the Legislative Assembly by two seats. One of those seats would be located in the country and one would be located in the city. That will take off some pressure from the country areas that will lose one less seat than they would otherwise have lost as a result of increasing the Legislative Assembly from 57 to 59 seats. It will also reduce the statewide quotient in a way that I think will be of assistance by creating somewhat smaller seats than would otherwise be the case. The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : Not necessarily. Dr K.D. Hames : How many seats will that apply to? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me get to that. That is the most important point. The Greens are prepared to accept this formula because the Mining and Pastoral Region will no longer be ring-fenced and the formula will look after the vast and truly remote areas of the state and give some recognition of the vast landmass. The government got what it wanted - that is, the five seats in the 87 per cent of the state that is the Mining and Pastoral Region - and the Greens ended up with an objective formula that will deliver a system that is universal in its application to all large electorates. Another minor element is that the last time around we allowed those seats that were subject to the very large-area allowance to fall 20 per cent beneath the statewide quotient. We have agreed to reinsert that into the formula. Generally speaking it is a 10 per cent plus or minus formula. Electorates will be allowed to fall 20 per cent below the quota if they are subject to the allowance. That is designed to accommodate the truly vast and remote seats. The second issue I would like to report on to the Parliament is that to facilitate this system, and in recognition of the debate that has taken place in the Parliament and in the community, we are amenable to increasing the size of the Legislative Assembly by two seats. One of those seats would be located in the country and one would be located in the city. That will take off some pressure from the country areas that will lose one less seat than they would otherwise have lost as a result of increasing the Legislative Assembly from 57 to 59 seats. It will also reduce the statewide quotient in a way that I think will be of assistance by creating somewhat smaller seats than would otherwise be the case. The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
Dr K.D. Hames : How many seats will that apply to? Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me get to that. That is the most important point. The Greens are prepared to accept this formula because the Mining and Pastoral Region will no longer be ring-fenced and the formula will look after the vast and truly remote areas of the state and give some recognition of the vast landmass. The government got what it wanted - that is, the five seats in the 87 per cent of the state that is the Mining and Pastoral Region - and the Greens ended up with an objective formula that will deliver a system that is universal in its application to all large electorates. Another minor element is that the last time around we allowed those seats that were subject to the very large-area allowance to fall 20 per cent beneath the statewide quotient. We have agreed to reinsert that into the formula. Generally speaking it is a 10 per cent plus or minus formula. Electorates will be allowed to fall 20 per cent below the quota if they are subject to the allowance. That is designed to accommodate the truly vast and remote seats. The second issue I would like to report on to the Parliament is that to facilitate this system, and in recognition of the debate that has taken place in the Parliament and in the community, we are amenable to increasing the size of the Legislative Assembly by two seats. One of those seats would be located in the country and one would be located in the city. That will take off some pressure from the country areas that will lose one less seat than they would otherwise have lost as a result of increasing the Legislative Assembly from 57 to 59 seats. It will also reduce the statewide quotient in a way that I think will be of assistance by creating somewhat smaller seats than would otherwise be the case. The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : Let me get to that. That is the most important point. The Greens are prepared to accept this formula because the Mining and Pastoral Region will no longer be ring-fenced and the formula will look after the vast and truly remote areas of the state and give some recognition of the vast landmass. The government got what it wanted - that is, the five seats in the 87 per cent of the state that is the Mining and Pastoral Region - and the Greens ended up with an objective formula that will deliver a system that is universal in its application to all large electorates. Another minor element is that the last time around we allowed those seats that were subject to the very large-area allowance to fall 20 per cent beneath the statewide quotient. We have agreed to reinsert that into the formula. Generally speaking it is a 10 per cent plus or minus formula. Electorates will be allowed to fall 20 per cent below the quota if they are subject to the allowance. That is designed to accommodate the truly vast and remote seats. The second issue I would like to report on to the Parliament is that to facilitate this system, and in recognition of the debate that has taken place in the Parliament and in the community, we are amenable to increasing the size of the Legislative Assembly by two seats. One of those seats would be located in the country and one would be located in the city. That will take off some pressure from the country areas that will lose one less seat than they would otherwise have lost as a result of increasing the Legislative Assembly from 57 to 59 seats. It will also reduce the statewide quotient in a way that I think will be of assistance by creating somewhat smaller seats than would otherwise be the case. The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
Another minor element is that the last time around we allowed those seats that were subject to the very large-area allowance to fall 20 per cent beneath the statewide quotient. We have agreed to reinsert that into the formula. Generally speaking it is a 10 per cent plus or minus formula. Electorates will be allowed to fall 20 per cent below the quota if they are subject to the allowance. That is designed to accommodate the truly vast and remote seats. The second issue I would like to report on to the Parliament is that to facilitate this system, and in recognition of the debate that has taken place in the Parliament and in the community, we are amenable to increasing the size of the Legislative Assembly by two seats. One of those seats would be located in the country and one would be located in the city. That will take off some pressure from the country areas that will lose one less seat than they would otherwise have lost as a result of increasing the Legislative Assembly from 57 to 59 seats. It will also reduce the statewide quotient in a way that I think will be of assistance by creating somewhat smaller seats than would otherwise be the case. The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
The second issue I would like to report on to the Parliament is that to facilitate this system, and in recognition of the debate that has taken place in the Parliament and in the community, we are amenable to increasing the size of the Legislative Assembly by two seats. One of those seats would be located in the country and one would be located in the city. That will take off some pressure from the country areas that will lose one less seat than they would otherwise have lost as a result of increasing the Legislative Assembly from 57 to 59 seats. It will also reduce the statewide quotient in a way that I think will be of assistance by creating somewhat smaller seats than would otherwise be the case. The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
The third matter in answer to the question of the Leader of the National Party is that it is likely - although we have not agreed on this; it is a matter that will require further discussion - that the Legislative Council will be restructured along the same lines as was contained in the legislation that ultimately passed this Parliament three years ago. That means the Legislative Council will be divided into six regions, which is the current number, and six members will represent each region. That would involve restructuring that is either comparable or identical to that which is contained in the original legislation.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.