Bob Day (SA, Family First Party) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I oppose schedule 1 in the following terms:

(1) Schedule 1, item 4, page 3 (lines 18 to 20), to be opposed.

(2) Schedule 1, items 7 to 13, page 4 (lines 11 to 26), to be opposed.

(4) Schedule 1, items 22 to 25, page 6 (line 20) to page 7 (line 15), to be opposed.

(5) Schedule 1, item 28, page 7 (line 22) to page 8 (line 17), to be opposed.

(6) Schedule 1, item 39, page 11 (lines 19 to 21), to be opposed.

I also move amendments (3) and (7) on sheet 7861 together:

(3) Schedule 1, item 20, page 6 (lines 2 to 17), omit the item, substitute:

20 Before subsection 239(2)

  Insert:

Voting above the line

20A Before subsection 239(4)

  Insert:

Candidates who die before polling day

(7) Schedule 1, item 41, page 11 (line 24) to the end of page 13, omit the item, substitute:

41 Schedule 1, Form E (footnote (7))

  Repeal the footnote, substitute:

(7) Here insert number of candidates.

(8) Here insert the logo of a registered political party if to be printed.

This amendment will preserve the right of the voter to delegate to the Labor Party the distribution of their preferences. For those who do not wish to do that, they can vote 1 to 12 below the line as per the government's amendment. This and only this gives the voter true power to choose either the group-voting ticket or below-the-line voting preferences themselves.

Much has been said in this debate about giving the power back to the voter. This bill does nothing of the kind. It removes a fundamental right of a voter to delegate to their favourite minor party the distribution of their preferences. So many voters who do not understand preferences are more than happy, more than confident, to give to their party the right to distribute the preferences in the best interests of the party. Those who do not wish to do that can vote 1 to 12 below the line. I commend my amendment.