Bruce Scott (Maranoa, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I have received a message from the Senate transmitting a resolution agreed to by the Senate on 11 May 2011 relating to the referral of an inquiry to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters and an amendment to the resolution of appointment for the purposes of this inquiry. Copies of the message have been placed on the table for the information of honourable members. I do not propose to read its terms, which will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings and Hansard. The Senate requests the concurrence of the House.

The message read as follows—

(1) That the following matter be referred to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters for inquiry and report by 30 September 2011:

Options to improve the system for the funding of political parties and election campaigns, with particular reference to:

(a) issues raised in the Government's Electoral Reform Green Paper - Donations, Funding and Expenditure, released in December 2008;

(b) the role of third parties in the electoral process;

(c) the transparency and accountability of the funding regime;

(d) limiting the escalating cost of elections;

(e) any relevant measures at the state and territory level and implications for the Commonwealth; and

(f) the international practices for the funding of political parties and election campaigns, including in Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and the United States of America.

(2) That, for the purposes of this inquiry only, paragraph (3) of the resolution of appointment be amended to read:

That the committee consist of 12 members, 3 Members of the House of Representatives to be nominated by the Government Whip or Whips, 4 Members of the House of Representatives to be nominated by the Opposition Whip or Whips and 1 non-aligned Member, 2 Senators to be nominated by the Leader of the Government in the Senate, 1 Senator to be nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and 1 Senator to be nominated by any minority group or groups or independent Senator or independent Senators

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