Questions without notice and ministers statements
Electoral reform
Samantha RATNAM (Northern Metropolitan) (12:00): (233) My question is to the Leader of the Government, representing the Premier. Once again the Electoral Matters Committee has been overwhelmed by submissions calling for group voting tickets to be abolished, including from all serious political parties, every eminent psephologist and every voter that cares about the state of democracy in Victoria. Despite this growing momentum, when asked last week, the Premier seemed to reveal his cynical strategy for delaying reform once again by this time proposing an unnecessary referendum. We all know that the stain of group voting can be fixed in this term of Parliament without a referendum. Given even the Labor Party now supports the abolition of undemocratic group voting tickets, will the government finally commit to doing the right thing and abolish them in this term of Parliament?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:01): It is not lost on me that you have got no friends today, Dr Ratnam. Where are they all? You have directed your question to the Premier with a bit of commentary, and you have referenced the Electoral Matters Committee. I believe that the committee should be allowed to freely do its work, and I think that political interference and commentary in relation to that work are probably unhelpful. However, you have asked a specific question of the Premier. Although responsibility for the Electoral Act I think sits with the Minister for Government Services – it is probably not really for the Premier – I will refer it in any event.
Samantha RATNAM (Northern Metropolitan) (12:02): Thank you, Attorney, for being willing to refer that on. This government has a very poor record of ignoring parliamentary committee reports and centrally controlling the government-dominated committees. Given that the government-controlled Electoral Matters Committee for all intents and purposes misled witnesses in order to stall reform on group voting tickets in the last term, is the government intending to once again aim to mislead, obfuscate and distract in order to stall group voting reform yet again on this issue in this term?
Members interjecting.
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:02): Dr Ratnam, I will pick up the interjections of my colleagues, who inform me – I think one might be on the Electoral Matters Committee – and assure me that the make-up of that committee is four Labor members out of nine. To refer to that as a government-dominated committee I do not think is an accurate portrayal at all. I also take offence at your description of a government that ignores reports. There is some really important work that parliamentary committees have completed that has informed government policy. I have been involved in committee work, and I found it invaluable, particularly as a first-time MP. Some of that work has resulted in assisted dying reform and safe-injecting reform, so that is not an accurate reflection of a government that puts reports on the shelf. I am answering your question, but I will refer it to the Premier, with your first one.