Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

I wouldn't describe them as voter integrity measures. I would describe them as voter discouragement measures. As you well know, you convinced a former minister of state to bat up a piece of legislation in this area, and I had the great satisfaction of campaigning successfully to convince the last parliament not to proceed with that legislation because it simply would have discouraged ordinary people, who want to vote, from voting. This is a comprehensive package of changes to our electoral system. It's been three years in the making. There have been two inquiries. There have been heaps, and heaps, and heaps of discussions. We're now at the point where we've got to make a decision. Are we going to increase the integrity of the Australian electoral system? Are we going to make it fairer? Are we going to make it more possible for ordinary Australians to participate, or are we not? What might happen in future parliaments to this particular act? I don't know. What I'm very confident about is that we've struck the right balance here. I am disappointed that the Greens and the independents have not come on board. I am genuinely disappointed about that because I think we want to be on the right side of history here. This is a significant change—a good change—to our democratic process. But for the moment, this is our package. This is what we want the parliament to vote for, and this is what the government is supporting.