Page 1166 - Week 04 - Thursday, 21 April 1994
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We have a situation where there is some slight difference now between the provisions for return of deposit and the provisions for public funding - or at least I think we do, because I note that the minutes of the proceedings of the Assembly on Tuesday night recorded that our amendment on that failed. I understand that that was a mistake.
Ms Follett: Yours did succeed.
MR HUMPHRIES: Yes, it did succeed. I think that matter has been cleared up. I take it that that is the case. On the basis that we did succeed on that, there is now a slight difference between the provisions for return of deposit and the provisions for public funding, and it is possible that somebody who loses their deposit could be entitled, nonetheless, to public funding. That would be, I think, slightly anomalous. In discussions with the Government and its representatives, the point was made that it would be anomalous and perverse even for a person who had lost his deposit to claim the deposit as public expenditure in order to recover some measure of public funding. Clearly, that would effectively remove the barrier which the deposit represents in discouraging frivolous candidacies. I therefore think, Madam Speaker, that my amendment to proposed new section 203 will have the effect of making it clear that one must incur public expenditure in order to get public funding, but you cannot count your expenditure on a deposit to contest the campaign as expenditure for which you get public funding.
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (1.52): Madam Speaker, the Government will not be opposing this amendment.
Amendment agreed to.
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (1.52): Madam Speaker, I move Government amendment q., which reads:
q. Page 88, line 2, proposed new section 213 (definition of "gift"), after "party" insert "or non-party group".
This simply adds the words "or non-party group" at an appropriate place in the Bill.
Amendment agreed to.
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (1.53): I move Government amendment No. 66, which reads:
66. Page 88, line 12, proposed new paragraph 214(2)(c), omit "made", substitute "received".
Proposed new paragraph 214(2)(c) is to be amended to make the disclosure requirements in the new section internally consistent. The amendment will require the reporting agents of candidates to declare the dates on which gifts were received, rather than the dates on which they were made.
Amendment agreed to.
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