CONSTITUTION (ELECTORAL REDISTRIBUTION) AMENDMENT BILL

Introduction and First Reading

The Hon. R.B. SUCH (Fisher) (10:30): Obtained leave and introduced a bill for an act to amend the Constitution Act 1934. Read a first time.

Second Reading

The Hon. R.B. SUCH (Fisher) (10:31): I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

Members may recall that I introduced an identical bill in 2006, the purpose of which was to change the current arrangement whereby after each election the electoral boundaries are redrawn. This bill seeks to redraw them after every second election. Members would appreciate that under the current arrangement you barely get time to adjust to an electorate, and people barely get time to adjust to you as the local member, when the boundaries are changed.

I do not think this proposal in any way takes away from the laudable effort that went into changing what was an unfair electoral system in this state. That change was made 10 or so years ago, and it was a desirable change because we had a system where we had what was, in effect, malapportionment, with some members representing a lot more electors than others. When I was elected in 1989, for example, I had twice the number of electors that the seat of Elizabeth had, and I think everyone could appreciate that there is an inherent unfairness in that. I recall approaching the Premier at the time, John Bannon, and asking whether there was any chance of getting some extra postage stamps. Well, we know John Bannon was very careful with money, and he politely declined my request.

That is not the reason for raising it now, of course, but I think after two elections is a reasonable time to bring on a redistribution. With the current arrangement the time frame is fairly short, and it is not as if our population is growing dramatically. I believe there is inherent sense in changing the law so that after the second election, after eight years, we change the boundaries to ensure they are fair and are committed to the principle of '50 per cent plus one' of the vote. I do not think there is any need to extend the argument, and I commend the bill to the house.

Debate adjourned on motion of Mrs Geraghty.