Page 4722 - Week 15 - Thursday, 16 December 1993
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Electoral Legislation
MR DE DOMENICO: Madam Speaker, my question without notice is to the Chief Minister. I refer the Chief Minister to her dishonest electoral legislation introduced this morning. Is it a fact that this legislation allows the scrutiny of votes to begin five days before polling day? Is this designed to ensure that ALP apparatchiks can begin to monitor the progress of the campaign prior to polling day? How can the Chief Minister ensure that information gained in this exercise will not be used to unfairly influence the conduct of the last days of the campaign?
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, Mr De Domenico is seeking to impugn the Electoral Commissioner, which I think is a very serious matter indeed. The Bill as drafted is to be debated in this chamber. If Mr De Domenico and his party would care to take part in the discussions and negotiations that are available to them, we could well discuss these issues. Madam Speaker, any suggestion that the Electoral Commission and the Electoral Commissioner would - - -
Mr De Domenico: There has been no suggestion of that. I am suggesting that you may, though.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! The Chief Minister is answering your question.
MS FOLLETT: Any suggestion that they would allow the course of events that Mr De Domenico has mentioned to occur is an impugning of those people, Madam Speaker. I think Mr De Domenico has misunderstood the legislation, which is not surprising. The intention of the legislation is that only the details are checked; the votes are not opened. A little bit of briefing, a little bit of discussion on that matter, could well have cleared it up, Madam Speaker; but the totally fraudulent members opposite have no interest in pursuing this matter in a reasonable or consultative way. They are simply continuing - - -
Members interjected.
Mr Moore: I take a point of order.
MADAM SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Moore. I hope that you are going to point out the excessive noise in the house.
Mr Moore: Certainly not, Madam Speaker. It seemed to me to be like normal interjections. Madam Speaker, you ruled this morning on the word "shonky". The Chief Minister is very happily using the word "fraudulent", without applying it to herself. I cannot help wondering to what extent "shonky" is worse than "fraudulent" or vice versa.
MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you for wondering, Mr Moore, but I have no problem with "fraudulent". Continue, Chief Minister.
Mr Moore: Thank you. Righto.
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, I believe - - -
Mr De Domenico: We continue with the fraudulent answer, then.
MADAM SPEAKER: However, we could have some order.
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