Page 983 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 19 April 1994
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MR STEVENSON: Yes. One of the questions we had here was to do with terms of two, three or four years. Whether the result we obtained was relevant is important. We remove as much bias as we can when we ask the specific question. We do that by giving people the clipboard and allowing them to answer the question in their own time. This is another important point. When you speak to someone on the phone or, more importantly, when you stand in front of them in the street or at their home, a number of them will not answer a question truthfully because they think it may be politically incorrect to say such things, or whatever. They answer the way they may feel they should answer.
Another situation is that they feel pressured by time. Instead of taking due time to consider the question about terms of two years, three years or four years, if you are waiting with pen poised for their answer they may throw out any answer to you. We have done our best to eliminate all this. As for the question about two, three or four years, we even tried to eliminate any bias in that area. I spoke to a number of members of this Assembly before we surveyed and I got some feedback.
Mr Berry: Madam Speaker, I raise a point of order.
MR STEVENSON: I think he is on his feet again.
MADAM SPEAKER: There is a point of order, Mr Stevenson.
Mr Berry: I would like to congratulate Madam Speaker for her flexibility and tolerance. How you run surveys really does not have much to do with what is in front of us right now. This is about the issues. I would not mind hearing about the issues rather than the way you conduct your surveys.
MADAM SPEAKER: The question before us is the amendment about three-year or four-year terms. Mr Stevenson, please focus your last minute on that question.
MR STEVENSON: Yes. I was concentrating on why I am going to vote for three years. We have done our utmost to remove any bias. I agree that the polls are not perfect. Some people say, "Where do you get the money to do it?". Fortunately, it does not cost money. It costs a lot of time. As I must have mentioned quite a few times in this Assembly, members can always go out and ask their own questions.
Mr Kaine: We do, but we do not get the same answers that you get.
MR STEVENSON: I know. Perhaps that is why you do not release them. It is not only a matter of asking. Why do you not release the results and then let me have a chat about your questions and your methods?
MS SZUTY (8.53): I noted when the Chief Minister tabled the Electoral (Amendment) Bill in December 1993 that it contained provisions for four-year terms. I personally have a difficulty with the process which enables us, the current elected representatives, to determine the length of tenure, potentially, for ourselves in the future. I do not know that I am as committed as Mr Moore is to four-year terms. That is a debate that perhaps we
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