Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

Sorry, in the last 10 years—I could not quite hear that; I take that interjection. The answer would be no. If the test is to ask the Australian Electoral Commission if any election has been impacted by the electoral funding thresholds by being allowed to donate around the nine different divisions et cetera or by overseas donations—all the sorts of things the Democrats have been trying knock out—I think we know what the answer would be: exactly the same answer that Senator Murray got to his question. That of itself does not sustain Senator Murray’s arguments in relation to making the roll more robust.

I will have to check the Hansard but, when I gave my speech to the Sydney Institute, I started off by making, I think—it is always dangerous to try to quote yourself—very strong comments about the fact that we have a very good, robust electoral system. I said that in my concluding remarks of the second reading debate as well. What I have said consistently is: just because we have got a good system does not mean that it cannot be made more robust. The example I used last night of the former member for McMillan, Christian Zahra, who got himself onto the electoral roll before he became an Australian citizen, exposed the weaknesses of the current method of enrolment in this country. It is easier to get onto the electoral roll—