Page 4635 - Week 15 - Wednesday, 15 December 1993
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There was one other matter she commented on. She regretted the fact that a professional planner was not on the Land and Planning Appeals Board. I point out that the appeals board is to interpret the planning laws. It is not to make laws; it is not to make the plans. We do not want that. It is to interpret them, to decide whether something has been done in accordance with the laws. On that matter, the article points out the difficulties of having planners on an appeals board. It refers to "the RAPI, whose membership is overwhelmingly composed of public sector planners in the ACT Planning Authority, NCPA, or the Federal Office of Local Government". It is simply not possible to have those people serving on an appeals board. There are other planners in the ACT; but, for the most part, as far as I have tracked them down, they are now providing advice to developers. So in that area too it is not desirable, or even possible, to have planners on an appeals board.
I look forward to working with the Royal Australian Planning Institute and its new chair. I find them very competent people. I think planners in the ACT have a world reputation, well deserved, and I look forward to working further with them on the very good and improving planning system we have in the ACT.
Electoral System
MR DE DOMENICO: Madam Speaker, my question without notice is to the Chief Minister. I refer to the Chief Minister's statement that her electoral legislation will contain above-the-line voting. Chief Minister, if I vote above the line, will my vote be recorded for the candidates in the order set out in the ballot-paper in front of me in all cases?
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, I really do think this question is out of order in that it does anticipate the debate. I have made it very clear that the Bill I will introduce tomorrow contains as an option an above-the-line vote, and the common understanding of an above-the-line vote is that it is a party ticket vote. Because of the Robson rotation method, which does vary the order of candidates, it is undoubtedly the case that from time to time those two will be the same and from time to time they will not be. We have put forward this option in the knowledge that it will be debated in the Assembly and also in the knowledge that it is an option that has been supported by the Liberal Party in the past. In fact, it was put forward by the Liberal Party in 1983.
Mr De Domenico: Which century?
Mr Moore: With Hare-Clark and Robson rotation?
MS FOLLETT: In 1983.
Mr Kaine: In 1983? This century or last century?
MS FOLLETT: No, above-the-line voting, it was indeed. We put it forward also in the knowledge that it is a system of voting which is extensively used by voters in Australia, where it is offered in, for instance, Senate ballots. That system of above-the-line voting has been increasing in popularity, and at the Senate election this year in Canberra it was employed by over 84 per cent of voters. Clearly, the voters themselves find that system attractive.
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