Re: Aus Federal Politics thread (XII)

[lardbucket]

not so minor then

[Big Dog]

Really?...that many? I'm obviously thinking of the lower house. Makes sense now that they would want to protect what little influence they have.

[JGK]

Really?...that many? I'm obviously thinking of the lower house. Makes sense now that they would want to protect what little influence they have.

It's twice as many Senators at the Nats.

[Big Dog]

Really?...that many? I'm obviously thinking of the lower house. Makes sense now that they would want to protect what little influence they have.

It's twice as many Senators at the Nats.

Inner city yuppies have a lot to answer for.

[skully]

Cheers MrK. I imagine it will go down in the Senate.

Greens support it so it is adone deal.

Cool.

[Ethics? The Gall!]

The Turnbull government will today introduce legislation for optional preferential voting in the Senate to break the shadowy preference deals that delivered seats to numerous microparty candidates at the last election.

Under the proposal, voters will be encouraged to direct their own preferences by numbering up to six party tickets above-the-line on their Senate voting paper.

good
as long as enough voters use their brains and number the boxes

[JGK]

It's only 6 boxes.

Hell, the Tozzies can do it on one hand.

[horace]

It's only 6 boxes.

Hell, the Tozzies can do it on one hand.

Sozzies would prefer six barrels to chuck their preferences.

[skully]

You guys.

[horace]

Great analysis about Lib preselection, esp Bronnys seat, in the Guardian.

Is this the end of the human voodoo doll? The prospective loss of pre selection would be the ultimate humiliation for one of the most selfish jerks to have been elected to Parliament.

[Bradman]

They're also going to allow a good number of errors below the line before tossing the vote. Might be a nightmare for polling officials, but common sense really.

[Ethics? The Gall!]

It's only 6 boxes.

Hell, the Tozzies can do it on one hand.

youre assuming they can write

[embee]

the AEC only requires an "X" ...which is the Qbanjo and Twozzie alphabet

[Ethics? The Gall!]

only for uni graduates

i should have said assuming they can read

[taipan]

It's only 6 boxes.

Hell, the Tozzies can do it on one hand.

youre assuming they can write

The irony.

[embee]

Gary Gray mounts case for Senate vote changes, before saying he won't vote for them





Heath Aston February 24 2016 - 10:45AM

Retiring Labor MP Gary Gray has taken a swipe at his own party, describing the ALP's opposition to the Coalition's Senate voting changes as "sad" and suggesting its position favoured "ballot manipulators" in the micro-party preference game.



Senate reform goes to parliament
The government is legislating to change senate elections. Malcolm Turnbull says the current system has been 'gamed' by 'preference whisperers'.
In an unusual speech to the House of Representatives, Mr Gray laid out a compelling case for the need for voting reforms before conceding he would not vote for the Coalition's proposals.

"I speak frankly to the House, I lost the debate internally," Mr Gray said.

Labor MP Gary Gray speaks during the debate on the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment Bill 2016 on Wednesday.
Labor MP Gary Gray speaks during the debate on the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment Bill 2016 on Wednesday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
"I lost the argument in my party room on Senate reform so Labor will oppose the substantive reforms that are enshrined in this bill. I think that's sad but it is the reality. My party has moved that it will be opposing this bill and therefore I oppose this bill."

Labor MPs face expulsion for crossing the floor.

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Mr Gray was a member of the joint standing committee on electoral reforms that last year recommended the abolition of the group voting ticket - the mechanism that has allowed minor parties to magnify tiny primary votes through complex preference deals - and he has consistently argued for reform ever since.

The Coalition, with the support of the Greens, is currently pushing through a bill that will remove the group voting ticket and allow voters to make their own preferences by choosing six parties 'above the line'.

Labor MP Gary Gray speaks during the debate on the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment Bill 2016 on Wednesday.
Labor MP Gary Gray speaks during the debate on the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment Bill 2016 on Wednesday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Labor's Senate leader Penny Wong said this week that the bill will essentially benefit the Coalition and the Greens by disenfranchising a quarter of the population who give their primary votes to minor parties.

Senator Wong, along with Stephen Conroy, prevailed in convincing the shadow cabinet to oppose the government's changes against the advice of Mr Gray and fellow frontbencher David Feeney.

Retiring Labor frontbencher Gary Gray with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten last year.
Retiring Labor frontbencher Gary Gray with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten last year. Photo: Andrew Meares
Mr Gray told the House that Labor's position appeared to suggest the ALP had placed the needs of the so-called preference whisperers above the average voter.

"Senate reform remains an issue for the future. It remains a vital issue for our nation, a nation that was built on the sanctity of the ballot and on the integrity of the ballot," he said.


"We as parliamentarians need to keep that central fact in mind and the principle in mind that how an elector marks their ballot paper is how that ballot paper should be counted.

"The counting of a ballot paper should reflect the intention of a voter and not the desires of ballot manipulators."

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