Thursday, 31 October 2024

 Tim READ (Brunswick) (14:26): My question is for the Premier. Australian voters can allocate their own preferences when voting above the line for the upper house in other states and federally but not here in Victoria. In this state above-the-line preferences are directed by parties using group voting tickets, which can be gamed to elect parties off microscopic votes. Western Australia got rid of this system after their last election, when the Daylight Saving Party was elected off 98 votes. Will Labor trust Victorians to direct their own preferences at the next state election?

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Brunswick, could you rephrase that question to directly relate to government business – just the last part?

Tim READ: Will government policy allow Victorians to direct their own preferences at the next state election?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:28): Deputy Speaker, I see you have invoked the mercy rule with that question. The member for Brunswick and indeed many members of the house who are interested in these matters know that the Electoral Matters Committee have handed down their report, as they are required to do following the conduct of every state election. I am sure, by the sound of the question from the member for Brunswick, that it is not just the government that is considering the recommendations in that report. It appears that other members of Parliament are considering the recommendations in that report. I did reflect as the member was asking his question whether there was an element of conflict that should be declared in asking the question, given the results that the Greens political party, I am advised, have experienced in recent times, whether it is in Yarra or Brisbane. But I will leave it for the member for Brunswick to self-declare those matters. As I said, there is a committee report that the government is considering its response to. We will respond in due course.

 Tim READ (Brunswick) (14:30): With the manipulation of group voting tickets by cartels of micro-parties that pay for a seat in Parliament – it is really quite astonishing that it took the WA government just a few weeks after that election result to resolve to eliminate group voting tickets, whereas we have put up with it for years and years and years – there is a success fee of $55,000 to buy a seat in the Legislative Council. So the question is: will the government allow Victorian voters to be manipulated for cash by this unrepresentative system in 2026 because it gives Labor the result it wants?

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:31): Goodness me. I thought the opposition were the only ones asking questions with a complete lack of evidence and substance, but it appears the Greens have joined in as well. In rejecting much of the colourful flourish, or the beige-style flourish, from the member for Brunswick in his question – there is so much that is wrong with that question that I do not have time in the 34 seconds available to unpack it – I repeat my earlier answer to the substantive question on the substantive issue, which is: we are considering the Electoral Matters Committee report and we will respond in due course.