[EM] Entrenching PR in the Constitution

[David Catchpole]

Well, I just had a look at the Bill, and it's pretty pathetic, basically
only introducing "using a method of proportional representation that shall
be uniform for all the States (Territories)," entrenching each state as a
single electorate, and removing an archaic provision on Queensland's first
Senators. I would really have liked something with a bit of gusto, that-

- at least bloody defined proportional representation to some extent and
established the rule that first preferences over the Droop quota meant a
seat;

- defined how a party list could also be included on the ballot paper and
stated that this did not violate the "direct choice" condition (this is
more or less contingency for an issue which may well arise some day)

- [wishful thinking] [:) but I don't think it'll come for a time... :( ]
had the whole Senate elected by PR at-large, rather than on 6-per-State
basis and changed Senate terms to the same as House terms- the same three
years for every Senator.

On Wed, 6 Oct 1999, David Catchpole wrote:

> On Wed, 6 Oct 1999, Crabb, Deane (PIRSA) wrote:
> 
> > I get Hansard for the Australian Parliament.  As this is always slow in
> > coming and then I need to find time to "read" it, I am often very much
> > behind the times!!
> > 
> > However in reading the Senate proceedings for August 24, I was very
> > interested in Senator Len Harris (the new One Nation Senator from
> > Queensland) introducing a Bill to entrench proportional representation as
> > the method of choosing Senators.
> 
> It seems that One Nation lurves PR for some reason now even though just
> previously it was being dissed by them in favour of FPP. Fascists are so
> fickle aren't they? Oh well, allies come in all persuasions. It may not be
> surprising to find that the entire block of Labor, the Democrats and the
> Greens get behind Harris' Bill if they can get past the inconvenience
> associated with referenda, which in Australia are tiresome, expensive,
> often unsuccessful, and perhaps the democratic institution Australians
> can be most proud of (yes, Virginia, we do have a popular constitution)
> (ignoring a federal hangover which the referendum mechanism could do
> without). 
> 
> I would suggest that Harris and One Nation's rationalisation for the Bill
> was that they wouldn't have recieved votes outside PR. However, I would
> support such an amendment to the constitution, providing it was loose
> enough (that is, just entrenching basic elements like "a candidate who
> recieves a Droop quota of first preferences shall be elected," maybe the
> meaning of party votes as they relate to the "direct election" clause,
> etc.). I'll have to get a look at that Bill.
> 
> > Was anyone else aware of this?  Has anyone dealt with Senator Harris (he has
> > only recently been added to the mailing list for the Proportional
> > Representation Society of Australia's publication "Quota Notes")?  Whoever
> > is assisting him needs to be congratulated.
> 
> Well, here comes my Lefty bias, but- hmmm...
> 
> >
> > Deane Crabb
> > Electoral Reform Society of South Australia
> 
>