October 25, 1999
URGENT:
To all supporters of democratic rights
Proposed changes to Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Act
(NSW)
We are seriously concerned about the proposed changes to NSW
electoral laws (see attached) that the Carr Labor Government is
about to introduce (Bill expected in November) and we are appalled
that the NSW Greens have welcomed this move as "victory for
democracy" .
The Carr Government's proposals are anti-democratic, will further
entrench the "two-party system" and will do nothing to prevent
abuse of the electoral system by anyone who has access to
significant funds.
Barriers to participation
The barriers to participation in the elections will be raised.
Parties will have to pay $3500 for the right to be registered,
supply the authorities with signed membership forms from 1000
exclusive members every year and if they want access to
above-the-line voting in the Legislative Council (Upper House)
ballot they will have to shell out $5000 in deposits.
These changes will make the NSW Parliament even more exclusively a
forum for the rich and powerful.
Special rights for big parties
The NSW Greens are enthusiastic about Labor's proposal to introduce
optional preferential above-the-line voting for the Legislative
Council. This was a NSW Greens' suggestion that Labor has accepted.
But it came with a price: for constitutional reasons, parties have
to field at least 15 candidates for the privilege of using
above-the-line voting. This gives big parties special rights.
The Labor Government's objective is to force out smaller parties
and this is why the Coalition supports Labor's proposals. The major
parties would actually prefer to eliminate the chamber of
Parliament elected through the more democratic proportional
representative system (especially after 30% of NSW electors voted
against them in the last election) but they cannot do this without
a public outcry. So they are going for less dramatic changes. But
this is just the start.
National and interstate repercussions
Already there have been several moves to make the electoral system
less accessible for smaller parties at the federal level and in
other states. If the Carr Labor Government gets away with its
anti-democratic Bill, then other governments will probably follow
their example. Haven't we seen enough examples, especially over the
last two decades, of how reactionary "reforms" escalate?
If you agree with this please:
1. Urgently publicise the anti-democratic nature of these proposals
as widely as possible and put your name to this protest. We will
undertake to circulate this letter widely by fax, e-mail and
through a protest site on the web
2. Write/fax/phone Greens MLCs Ian Cohen and Lee Rhiannon (Tel:
02-9230 3552 Fax: 02-9230 3550) and urge them to get on the right
side of this issue and not allow the Labor Governmentto use the NSW
Greens to legitimise an anti-democratic Bill.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Boyle
for the Democratic Socialists
Summary of proposed changes to the Parliamentary Electorate and
Elections Act 1912
(Source: Cross Brench Briefing by Special Minister of State, John
Della Bosca, October 12 1999)
The proposed Bill:
* permits optional preferential voting above the line and
abolishes group voting tickets. For constitutional reasons,
only those groups that include at least 15 candidates are
permitted to apply for a group voting square above the line;
* caps the deposit payable by candidates in a group (which is
normally $500 each) at $5,000 for groups with no more than 21
candidates;
* provides that, to be eligible for registration, a party must
have at least 1,000 members and must lodge a membership
declaration form completed by each of those 1,000 minimum
members. The same member cannot be relied upon by more than one
party to qualify or continue to qualify for registration;
* requires a party to pay a one-off registration fee of $3,500
(being $3.50 each for the 1,000 members of the party);
* requires parties that are currently registered to satisfy the
new registration requirements as to minimum membership and
payment of the registration fee by 30 June 2000;
* provides that a party must be registered for 12 months before
it can nominate or endorse candidates in an election. This
retsriction will not apply to currently registered parties that
comply with the new registration requirements by 30 June 2000.
* requires parties to submit annual returns by 30 June each year
showing tat they continue to satisfy the minimum membership
requirements; and
* empowers the Electoral Commissioner to require further
information from parties in relation to whether or not they
continue to be eligible for registration.
Democratic Socialist Party National Office
PO Box 515
Broadway NSW 2007
Australia
Tel: 61 (0)2 9690 1230
Fax: 61 (0)2 9690 1381
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.dsp.org.au/
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