❓ Question regarding the Premier's commitment to electoral reform and a referendum on major electoral changes, referencing a Commission on Government report. The Premier defends his position, citing the need to navigate both houses of Parliament and accusing the opposition of self-interest.
AnsweredQoN 198Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ELECTORAL REFORM, REFERENDUM
I refer to report No 5 of the Commission on Government, which stated that the most important features of an electoral system, the rules concerning the composition of the House and the drawing of boundaries, require constitutional recognition. I also remind the Premier of the Commission on Government recommendation that a referendum be held on the introduction of major electoral changes and ask - (1) Does the Premier recall giving his unqualified support to those recommendations? (2) Why has he cast aside his principles for blatant political gain? Dr GALLOP
I refer to report No 5 of the Commission on Government, which stated that the most important features of an electoral system, the rules concerning the composition of the House and the drawing of boundaries, require constitutional recognition. I also remind the Premier of the Commission on Government recommendation that a referendum be held on the introduction of major electoral changes and ask - (1) Does the Premier recall giving his unqualified support to those recommendations? (2) Why has he cast aside his principles for blatant political gain? Dr GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) A fundamental principle put forward in the reports of both the Royal Commission into Commercial Activities of Government and Other Matters and the Commission on Government was to establish a system of one vote, one value in Western Australia. As a result of the constitution of our Parliament, which of course has two Houses, any Government with the aspiration for one vote, one value needs to get the legislation through the two Houses of Parliament. In Western Australia today, the Government has a clear majority in the lower House of Parliament. As a result of the system of proportional representation, the Government must negotiate legislation through the upper House. As a result of that, the Government will not be able to achieve the one vote, one value proposal that it put to the people at the election. The Government will, however, have made a significant amount of progress, should the Bill presented by the Attorney General go through the Parliament. That is the way things are done. If the Deputy Leader of the Opposition would agree to entrench one vote, one value into the Constitution, with a requirement that a special majority would be necessary to remove it, the Government would be happy to talk to him about that matter. Of course, the Opposition will not agree to that. The Government will not agree to a referendum! What a joke! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Once again, the level of noise was such that I could not hear what the Premier was saying. Please let the Premier complete his answer. Dr GALLOP: The Government will not have a referendum on this matter. There are two Houses of Parliament, and an election has been held for those two Houses. The Labor Party won the majority in this House, and now it will go to the other House with the Bill and try to get it through that House. This argument is ridiculous. Every Parliament in Australia has had this argument throughout the twentieth century. In Western Australia, we edge our way into the twenty-first century, but what is the big obstacle between Western Australia and the twenty-first century? It is the self-interest of Liberal members of Parliament with country seats, and the National Party. That is what stands against the principle of one vote, one value. In answer to the question, no, there will not be a referendum, and the Government will pursue the matter through both Houses of Parliament, which is the system that currently exists.
(1) Does the Premier recall giving his unqualified support to those recommendations? (2) Why has he cast aside his principles for blatant political gain? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) A fundamental principle put forward in the reports of both the Royal Commission into Commercial Activities of Government and Other Matters and the Commission on Government was to establish a system of one vote, one value in Western Australia. As a result of the constitution of our Parliament, which of course has two Houses, any Government with the aspiration for one vote, one value needs to get the legislation through the two Houses of Parliament. In Western Australia today, the Government has a clear majority in the lower House of Parliament. As a result of the system of proportional representation, the Government must negotiate legislation through the upper House. As a result of that, the Government will not be able to achieve the one vote, one value proposal that it put to the people at the election. The Government will, however, have made a significant amount of progress, should the Bill presented by the Attorney General go through the Parliament. That is the way things are done. If the Deputy Leader of the Opposition would agree to entrench one vote, one value into the Constitution, with a requirement that a special majority would be necessary to remove it, the Government would be happy to talk to him about that matter. Of course, the Opposition will not agree to that. The Government will not agree to a referendum! What a joke! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Once again, the level of noise was such that I could not hear what the Premier was saying. Please let the Premier complete his answer. Dr GALLOP: The Government will not have a referendum on this matter. There are two Houses of Parliament, and an election has been held for those two Houses. The Labor Party won the majority in this House, and now it will go to the other House with the Bill and try to get it through that House. This argument is ridiculous. Every Parliament in Australia has had this argument throughout the twentieth century. In Western Australia, we edge our way into the twenty-first century, but what is the big obstacle between Western Australia and the twenty-first century? It is the self-interest of Liberal members of Parliament with country seats, and the National Party. That is what stands against the principle of one vote, one value. In answer to the question, no, there will not be a referendum, and the Government will pursue the matter through both Houses of Parliament, which is the system that currently exists.
(2) Why has he cast aside his principles for blatant political gain? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) A fundamental principle put forward in the reports of both the Royal Commission into Commercial Activities of Government and Other Matters and the Commission on Government was to establish a system of one vote, one value in Western Australia. As a result of the constitution of our Parliament, which of course has two Houses, any Government with the aspiration for one vote, one value needs to get the legislation through the two Houses of Parliament. In Western Australia today, the Government has a clear majority in the lower House of Parliament. As a result of the system of proportional representation, the Government must negotiate legislation through the upper House. As a result of that, the Government will not be able to achieve the one vote, one value proposal that it put to the people at the election. The Government will, however, have made a significant amount of progress, should the Bill presented by the Attorney General go through the Parliament. That is the way things are done. If the Deputy Leader of the Opposition would agree to entrench one vote, one value into the Constitution, with a requirement that a special majority would be necessary to remove it, the Government would be happy to talk to him about that matter. Of course, the Opposition will not agree to that. The Government will not agree to a referendum! What a joke! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Once again, the level of noise was such that I could not hear what the Premier was saying. Please let the Premier complete his answer. Dr GALLOP: The Government will not have a referendum on this matter. There are two Houses of Parliament, and an election has been held for those two Houses. The Labor Party won the majority in this House, and now it will go to the other House with the Bill and try to get it through that House. This argument is ridiculous. Every Parliament in Australia has had this argument throughout the twentieth century. In Western Australia, we edge our way into the twenty-first century, but what is the big obstacle between Western Australia and the twenty-first century? It is the self-interest of Liberal members of Parliament with country seats, and the National Party. That is what stands against the principle of one vote, one value. In answer to the question, no, there will not be a referendum, and the Government will pursue the matter through both Houses of Parliament, which is the system that currently exists.
Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) A fundamental principle put forward in the reports of both the Royal Commission into Commercial Activities of Government and Other Matters and the Commission on Government was to establish a system of one vote, one value in Western Australia. As a result of the constitution of our Parliament, which of course has two Houses, any Government with the aspiration for one vote, one value needs to get the legislation through the two Houses of Parliament. In Western Australia today, the Government has a clear majority in the lower House of Parliament. As a result of the system of proportional representation, the Government must negotiate legislation through the upper House. As a result of that, the Government will not be able to achieve the one vote, one value proposal that it put to the people at the election. The Government will, however, have made a significant amount of progress, should the Bill presented by the Attorney General go through the Parliament. That is the way things are done. If the Deputy Leader of the Opposition would agree to entrench one vote, one value into the Constitution, with a requirement that a special majority would be necessary to remove it, the Government would be happy to talk to him about that matter. Of course, the Opposition will not agree to that. The Government will not agree to a referendum! What a joke! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Once again, the level of noise was such that I could not hear what the Premier was saying. Please let the Premier complete his answer. Dr GALLOP: The Government will not have a referendum on this matter. There are two Houses of Parliament, and an election has been held for those two Houses. The Labor Party won the majority in this House, and now it will go to the other House with the Bill and try to get it through that House. This argument is ridiculous. Every Parliament in Australia has had this argument throughout the twentieth century. In Western Australia, we edge our way into the twenty-first century, but what is the big obstacle between Western Australia and the twenty-first century? It is the self-interest of Liberal members of Parliament with country seats, and the National Party. That is what stands against the principle of one vote, one value. In answer to the question, no, there will not be a referendum, and the Government will pursue the matter through both Houses of Parliament, which is the system that currently exists.
(1)-(2) A fundamental principle put forward in the reports of both the Royal Commission into Commercial Activities of Government and Other Matters and the Commission on Government was to establish a system of one vote, one value in Western Australia. As a result of the constitution of our Parliament, which of course has two Houses, any Government with the aspiration for one vote, one value needs to get the legislation through the two Houses of Parliament. In Western Australia today, the Government has a clear majority in the lower House of Parliament. As a result of the system of proportional representation, the Government must negotiate legislation through the upper House. As a result of that, the Government will not be able to achieve the one vote, one value proposal that it put to the people at the election. The Government will, however, have made a significant amount of progress, should the Bill presented by the Attorney General go through the Parliament. That is the way things are done. If the Deputy Leader of the Opposition would agree to entrench one vote, one value into the Constitution, with a requirement that a special majority would be necessary to remove it, the Government would be happy to talk to him about that matter. Of course, the Opposition will not agree to that. The Government will not agree to a referendum! What a joke! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Once again, the level of noise was such that I could not hear what the Premier was saying. Please let the Premier complete his answer. Dr GALLOP: The Government will not have a referendum on this matter. There are two Houses of Parliament, and an election has been held for those two Houses. The Labor Party won the majority in this House, and now it will go to the other House with the Bill and try to get it through that House. This argument is ridiculous. Every Parliament in Australia has had this argument throughout the twentieth century. In Western Australia, we edge our way into the twenty-first century, but what is the big obstacle between Western Australia and the twenty-first century? It is the self-interest of Liberal members of Parliament with country seats, and the National Party. That is what stands against the principle of one vote, one value. In answer to the question, no, there will not be a referendum, and the Government will pursue the matter through both Houses of Parliament, which is the system that currently exists.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Once again, the level of noise was such that I could not hear what the Premier was saying. Please let the Premier complete his answer. Dr GALLOP: The Government will not have a referendum on this matter. There are two Houses of Parliament, and an election has been held for those two Houses. The Labor Party won the majority in this House, and now it will go to the other House with the Bill and try to get it through that House. This argument is ridiculous. Every Parliament in Australia has had this argument throughout the twentieth century. In Western Australia, we edge our way into the twenty-first century, but what is the big obstacle between Western Australia and the twenty-first century? It is the self-interest of Liberal members of Parliament with country seats, and the National Party. That is what stands against the principle of one vote, one value. In answer to the question, no, there will not be a referendum, and the Government will pursue the matter through both Houses of Parliament, which is the system that currently exists.
The SPEAKER: Once again, the level of noise was such that I could not hear what the Premier was saying. Please let the Premier complete his answer. Dr GALLOP: The Government will not have a referendum on this matter. There are two Houses of Parliament, and an election has been held for those two Houses. The Labor Party won the majority in this House, and now it will go to the other House with the Bill and try to get it through that House. This argument is ridiculous. Every Parliament in Australia has had this argument throughout the twentieth century. In Western Australia, we edge our way into the twenty-first century, but what is the big obstacle between Western Australia and the twenty-first century? It is the self-interest of Liberal members of Parliament with country seats, and the National Party. That is what stands against the principle of one vote, one value. In answer to the question, no, there will not be a referendum, and the Government will pursue the matter through both Houses of Parliament, which is the system that currently exists.
Dr GALLOP: The Government will not have a referendum on this matter. There are two Houses of Parliament, and an election has been held for those two Houses. The Labor Party won the majority in this House, and now it will go to the other House with the Bill and try to get it through that House. This argument is ridiculous. Every Parliament in Australia has had this argument throughout the twentieth century. In Western Australia, we edge our way into the twenty-first century, but what is the big obstacle between Western Australia and the twenty-first century? It is the self-interest of Liberal members of Parliament with country seats, and the National Party. That is what stands against the principle of one vote, one value. In answer to the question, no, there will not be a referendum, and the Government will pursue the matter through both Houses of Parliament, which is the system that currently exists.
Every Parliament in Australia has had this argument throughout the twentieth century. In Western Australia, we edge our way into the twenty-first century, but what is the big obstacle between Western Australia and the twenty-first century? It is the self-interest of Liberal members of Parliament with country seats, and the National Party. That is what stands against the principle of one vote, one value. In answer to the question, no, there will not be a referendum, and the Government will pursue the matter through both Houses of Parliament, which is the system that currently exists.
(1) Does the Premier recall giving his unqualified support to those recommendations? (2) Why has he cast aside his principles for blatant political gain? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) A fundamental principle put forward in the reports of both the Royal Commission into Commercial Activities of Government and Other Matters and the Commission on Government was to establish a system of one vote, one value in Western Australia. As a result of the constitution of our Parliament, which of course has two Houses, any Government with the aspiration for one vote, one value needs to get the legislation through the two Houses of Parliament. In Western Australia today, the Government has a clear majority in the lower House of Parliament. As a result of the system of proportional representation, the Government must negotiate legislation through the upper House. As a result of that, the Government will not be able to achieve the one vote, one value proposal that it put to the people at the election. The Government will, however, have made a significant amount of progress, should the Bill presented by the Attorney General go through the Parliament. That is the way things are done. If the Deputy Leader of the Opposition would agree to entrench one vote, one value into the Constitution, with a requirement that a special majority would be necessary to remove it, the Government would be happy to talk to him about that matter. Of course, the Opposition will not agree to that. The Government will not agree to a referendum! What a joke! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Once again, the level of noise was such that I could not hear what the Premier was saying. Please let the Premier complete his answer. Dr GALLOP: The Government will not have a referendum on this matter. There are two Houses of Parliament, and an election has been held for those two Houses. The Labor Party won the majority in this House, and now it will go to the other House with the Bill and try to get it through that House. This argument is ridiculous. Every Parliament in Australia has had this argument throughout the twentieth century. In Western Australia, we edge our way into the twenty-first century, but what is the big obstacle between Western Australia and the twenty-first century? It is the self-interest of Liberal members of Parliament with country seats, and the National Party. That is what stands against the principle of one vote, one value. In answer to the question, no, there will not be a referendum, and the Government will pursue the matter through both Houses of Parliament, which is the system that currently exists.
(2) Why has he cast aside his principles for blatant political gain? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) A fundamental principle put forward in the reports of both the Royal Commission into Commercial Activities of Government and Other Matters and the Commission on Government was to establish a system of one vote, one value in Western Australia. As a result of the constitution of our Parliament, which of course has two Houses, any Government with the aspiration for one vote, one value needs to get the legislation through the two Houses of Parliament. In Western Australia today, the Government has a clear majority in the lower House of Parliament. As a result of the system of proportional representation, the Government must negotiate legislation through the upper House. As a result of that, the Government will not be able to achieve the one vote, one value proposal that it put to the people at the election. The Government will, however, have made a significant amount of progress, should the Bill presented by the Attorney General go through the Parliament. That is the way things are done. If the Deputy Leader of the Opposition would agree to entrench one vote, one value into the Constitution, with a requirement that a special majority would be necessary to remove it, the Government would be happy to talk to him about that matter. Of course, the Opposition will not agree to that. The Government will not agree to a referendum! What a joke! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Once again, the level of noise was such that I could not hear what the Premier was saying. Please let the Premier complete his answer. Dr GALLOP: The Government will not have a referendum on this matter. There are two Houses of Parliament, and an election has been held for those two Houses. The Labor Party won the majority in this House, and now it will go to the other House with the Bill and try to get it through that House. This argument is ridiculous. Every Parliament in Australia has had this argument throughout the twentieth century. In Western Australia, we edge our way into the twenty-first century, but what is the big obstacle between Western Australia and the twenty-first century? It is the self-interest of Liberal members of Parliament with country seats, and the National Party. That is what stands against the principle of one vote, one value. In answer to the question, no, there will not be a referendum, and the Government will pursue the matter through both Houses of Parliament, which is the system that currently exists.
Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) A fundamental principle put forward in the reports of both the Royal Commission into Commercial Activities of Government and Other Matters and the Commission on Government was to establish a system of one vote, one value in Western Australia. As a result of the constitution of our Parliament, which of course has two Houses, any Government with the aspiration for one vote, one value needs to get the legislation through the two Houses of Parliament. In Western Australia today, the Government has a clear majority in the lower House of Parliament. As a result of the system of proportional representation, the Government must negotiate legislation through the upper House. As a result of that, the Government will not be able to achieve the one vote, one value proposal that it put to the people at the election. The Government will, however, have made a significant amount of progress, should the Bill presented by the Attorney General go through the Parliament. That is the way things are done. If the Deputy Leader of the Opposition would agree to entrench one vote, one value into the Constitution, with a requirement that a special majority would be necessary to remove it, the Government would be happy to talk to him about that matter. Of course, the Opposition will not agree to that. The Government will not agree to a referendum! What a joke! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Once again, the level of noise was such that I could not hear what the Premier was saying. Please let the Premier complete his answer. Dr GALLOP: The Government will not have a referendum on this matter. There are two Houses of Parliament, and an election has been held for those two Houses. The Labor Party won the majority in this House, and now it will go to the other House with the Bill and try to get it through that House. This argument is ridiculous. Every Parliament in Australia has had this argument throughout the twentieth century. In Western Australia, we edge our way into the twenty-first century, but what is the big obstacle between Western Australia and the twenty-first century? It is the self-interest of Liberal members of Parliament with country seats, and the National Party. That is what stands against the principle of one vote, one value. In answer to the question, no, there will not be a referendum, and the Government will pursue the matter through both Houses of Parliament, which is the system that currently exists.
(1)-(2) A fundamental principle put forward in the reports of both the Royal Commission into Commercial Activities of Government and Other Matters and the Commission on Government was to establish a system of one vote, one value in Western Australia. As a result of the constitution of our Parliament, which of course has two Houses, any Government with the aspiration for one vote, one value needs to get the legislation through the two Houses of Parliament. In Western Australia today, the Government has a clear majority in the lower House of Parliament. As a result of the system of proportional representation, the Government must negotiate legislation through the upper House. As a result of that, the Government will not be able to achieve the one vote, one value proposal that it put to the people at the election. The Government will, however, have made a significant amount of progress, should the Bill presented by the Attorney General go through the Parliament. That is the way things are done. If the Deputy Leader of the Opposition would agree to entrench one vote, one value into the Constitution, with a requirement that a special majority would be necessary to remove it, the Government would be happy to talk to him about that matter. Of course, the Opposition will not agree to that. The Government will not agree to a referendum! What a joke! Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Once again, the level of noise was such that I could not hear what the Premier was saying. Please let the Premier complete his answer. Dr GALLOP: The Government will not have a referendum on this matter. There are two Houses of Parliament, and an election has been held for those two Houses. The Labor Party won the majority in this House, and now it will go to the other House with the Bill and try to get it through that House. This argument is ridiculous. Every Parliament in Australia has had this argument throughout the twentieth century. In Western Australia, we edge our way into the twenty-first century, but what is the big obstacle between Western Australia and the twenty-first century? It is the self-interest of Liberal members of Parliament with country seats, and the National Party. That is what stands against the principle of one vote, one value. In answer to the question, no, there will not be a referendum, and the Government will pursue the matter through both Houses of Parliament, which is the system that currently exists.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Once again, the level of noise was such that I could not hear what the Premier was saying. Please let the Premier complete his answer. Dr GALLOP: The Government will not have a referendum on this matter. There are two Houses of Parliament, and an election has been held for those two Houses. The Labor Party won the majority in this House, and now it will go to the other House with the Bill and try to get it through that House. This argument is ridiculous. Every Parliament in Australia has had this argument throughout the twentieth century. In Western Australia, we edge our way into the twenty-first century, but what is the big obstacle between Western Australia and the twenty-first century? It is the self-interest of Liberal members of Parliament with country seats, and the National Party. That is what stands against the principle of one vote, one value. In answer to the question, no, there will not be a referendum, and the Government will pursue the matter through both Houses of Parliament, which is the system that currently exists.
The SPEAKER: Once again, the level of noise was such that I could not hear what the Premier was saying. Please let the Premier complete his answer. Dr GALLOP: The Government will not have a referendum on this matter. There are two Houses of Parliament, and an election has been held for those two Houses. The Labor Party won the majority in this House, and now it will go to the other House with the Bill and try to get it through that House. This argument is ridiculous. Every Parliament in Australia has had this argument throughout the twentieth century. In Western Australia, we edge our way into the twenty-first century, but what is the big obstacle between Western Australia and the twenty-first century? It is the self-interest of Liberal members of Parliament with country seats, and the National Party. That is what stands against the principle of one vote, one value. In answer to the question, no, there will not be a referendum, and the Government will pursue the matter through both Houses of Parliament, which is the system that currently exists.
Dr GALLOP: The Government will not have a referendum on this matter. There are two Houses of Parliament, and an election has been held for those two Houses. The Labor Party won the majority in this House, and now it will go to the other House with the Bill and try to get it through that House. This argument is ridiculous. Every Parliament in Australia has had this argument throughout the twentieth century. In Western Australia, we edge our way into the twenty-first century, but what is the big obstacle between Western Australia and the twenty-first century? It is the self-interest of Liberal members of Parliament with country seats, and the National Party. That is what stands against the principle of one vote, one value. In answer to the question, no, there will not be a referendum, and the Government will pursue the matter through both Houses of Parliament, which is the system that currently exists.
Every Parliament in Australia has had this argument throughout the twentieth century. In Western Australia, we edge our way into the twenty-first century, but what is the big obstacle between Western Australia and the twenty-first century? It is the self-interest of Liberal members of Parliament with country seats, and the National Party. That is what stands against the principle of one vote, one value. In answer to the question, no, there will not be a referendum, and the Government will pursue the matter through both Houses of Parliament, which is the system that currently exists.
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