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High Court Unanimously Dismisses Challenge To Senate Voting Changes

May 13, 2016

The High Court has unanimously dismissed a challenge to the recently legislated Senate voting changes.

The seven Justices dismissed two applications, including one by South Australian Family First Senator Bob Day.

The changes abolished group voting tickets and introduced optional preferential voting above and below the line.

The court held that the term “method” in Section 9 of the Constitution “is to be considered broadly, allowing for more than one way of indicating choice within a single uniform electoral system”. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Federal Election, Audio, Electoral Reform, High Court, Political Reform, Senate, Turnbull, Video Tagged With: ,

High Court To Hear Challenge To Senate Voting Reforms On May 2

Apr 15, 2016

The High Court will hear the constitutional challenge to the Senate voting reforms on May 2.

The Chief Justice, Robert French, fixed the hearing date during a directions hearing today.

The challenge has been brought by South Australian Family First Senator Bob Day. His barrister is Peter King, the former Liberal MP who was defeated by Malcolm Turnbull in a 2004 preselection battle in Wentworth.

During the 22-minute hearing, it was agreed that an affidavit by Malcolm Mackerras, the election expert and psephologist, would not be used in the hearing.

The May 2 hearing is the day before the Federal Budget is delivered. It is nine days before the May 11 deadline for the calling of a double dissolution election.

The transcript of today’s hearing appears below. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Federal Election, Electoral Reform, High Court, Legislation, Turnbull Tagged With: , , , , ,

Written Submissions Lodged For High Court Challenge To Senate Voting Reforms

Apr 15, 2016

These are the written submissions lodged with the High Court by Senator Bob Day and the Commonwealth, as part of the hearing of a challenge to the Senate voting reforms.

Day, a Family First senator, has brought the challenge. The matter is listed at 10.00am today for the Court to make directions as to referral to a Full Court. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Federal Election, Electoral Reform, High Court, Parliamentary Reform, Turnbull Tagged With: ,

Senate Voting Reforms Passed By Both Houses

Mar 18, 2016

The House of Representatives has given its approval to the final version of the bill to reform the Senate’s voting system.

After an all-night debate that finally concluded at 2.30pm on Friday afternoon, the Senate voted to approve the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment Bill 2016. The bill abolishes group voting tickets and introduces optional preferential voting above and below the line.

The House of Representatives remained on stand-by to confirm amendments passed by the Senate. It met at 3.07pm.

  • Watch the House proceedings (26m)

Hansard transcript of House of Representatives proceedings.

Mr TURNBULL (Wentworth—Prime Minister) (15:07): I move:

That the amendments be agreed to. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Federal Election, A.L.P., Electoral Reform, Legislation, Turnbull, Video Tagged With: , , , , ,
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