Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 6 Hansard (15 June) . . Page.. 1920 ..

MR KAINE (continuing):

have the resources to do that. Independents do not have the resources to compete in elections on the same basis as major parties.

Now, if you think we should, do not tinker with the legislation by putting hurdles in here like this. Remove the provisions from the act that have to do with the way the Hare-Clark system works to make it difficult. Let's be realistic about it: make it difficult by changing the electoral system. This proposition means that if I want to enrol for election now as an Independent I have to produce the names of 50 supporters before the Electoral Commissioner will take my $250. I did not have to do that three years ago, or six years ago, or nine years ago, but this year I have got to produce a list, according to Mr Stanhope, of 50 supporters. When Mr Stanhope goes along to register and enrol, does he have to produce a list of 50 people? No, he does not. Does Mr Stefaniak? No, he does not. But if I go along to enrol as an Independent I have to have my list of 50 supporters as well as my $250.

I come back to the point I made the other day. I thought that the determination of whether you had enough support to get elected or not came when you went to the ballot, because you have to get a lot more than 50 votes. Considerably more. So why this artificial barrier of producing a list of 50 names of people who support you before you can even nominate? What is the merit of that? Whose interests are you serving?

Ms Tucker: He's not asking me.

MR KAINE: I am asking you. Whose interests are you serving?

Ms Tucker: You are not talking to my amendment.

MR KAINE: Well, you are saying that I have to have 100 backers.

Ms Tucker: Yes, for you if you want a ballot group. But not if you just want to be an Independent.

MR KAINE: I am saying to you that you have a party organisation behind you which you have had for years, and even when the Greens began in the territory you had the backing of a party behind you that existed elsewhere in Australia, and I am starting as an Independent. I do not have that party organisation. I do not have that party support. I'm just me, and I am going to be saying to the community, "Here I am. I am Trevor Kaine and I would like you to vote for me." I have to meet the same requirements that you do as an organised party with all the resources that you have available to you.

It is simply putting a barrier that prevents me jumping that first hurdle, or makes it more difficult, as Mr Rugendyke said. He will jump the hurdle, and so will I if I have to, but what is the purpose of this hurdle? Whose interests are you serving? Are you serving the interests of the community, the electorate? I do not think so. I do not see how you do.

Mr Speaker, I am opposed to these artificial barriers that it is now being proposed be set up to make it more difficult for me to stand as an Independent candidate, if that is what I choose to do. Nobody has justified it yet. I can see that there is some selfish self-interest in it, but there is nothing in there that works in the interests of the

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .