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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: , , , , ,

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: , , , , ,

Gary Gray: “I Am Made Sad By My Party’s Position”

Mar 17, 2016

Gary Gray has reiterated his support for the Senate voting reforms, in a speech to the Federation Chamber of the House of Representatives today.

Gray, the Labor member for Brand, said the government’s bill contained 95% of the recommendations of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters.

Gray said the legislation sought to eliminate “pop-up parties” created for the purpose of garnering a small number of primary votes and then channelling those votes elsewhere through group voting tickets.

He said he would vote with his party against the legislation but said: “I am made sad by my party’s position.” [Read more…]

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

Turnbull Announces Senate Voting Reforms; Group Voting Tickets Abolished

Feb 22, 2016

Senate group voting tickets are to be abolished and optional preferential above the line voting is to be introduced, in electoral reforms announced today by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

The reforms are the result of an agreement with the Australian Greens and independent Senator Nick Xenophon. The agreement guarantees 44 Senate votes to pass the legislation.

The key change is the abolition of Senate group voting tickets. This will mean that political parties will no longer control the direction of preferences cast by electors who vote above the line in the Senate. This eliminates the preference harvesting that has resulted in candidates with tiny first preference support being elected as the result of complex preference swaps. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Federal Election, Audio, Electoral Reform, Electoral System, Greens, Liberal Party, Turnbull, Video Tagged With: , , , , , ,