Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

As I have previously indicated, it is not possible to predict future voter behaviour. Future voter behaviour is something that will be able to be assessed after the next election. What we do know, though, is that, by making it simpler and easier for people to express a preference below the line, we can reasonably assume that more people will choose to take that option . If you make it less cumbersome, I assume that more people will take advantage of that opportunity. To what extent they will do so, we will find out at the next election and we will be able to have that conversation at that time. The key focus of our reforms is to empower voters to determine what happens not only to their first primary vote but also to their preferences, whether they are voting above the line or below the line. Above the line, voters can express a preference not only for their first party of choice but also for any subsequent party they want to favour with their second, third, fourth and subsequent preferences. Below the line, voters can express a preference for individual candidates. The guidance on the ballot paper will be to vote below the line and to number at least 12 boxes in the order of preference from 1 to 12.

The CHAIRMAN: The question is that amendment (2) on sheet JP109 be agreed to.