Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill

So we now come to the debate on new clause 7, regarding Gazette notices of a vacancy.

Thank you, Mr Chairman. The clause that we now debate is in respect of section 129 of the Electoral Act, and the issue of by-elections. I firstly want to make the point of how significant it is that we have electors—45,000 people in an area—voting for a member of Parliament, as they have in this Parliament for over 160 years, and now we’re giving the power for a party leader to overrule the decision of those 45,000 voters in a constituency to dismiss that MP and trigger a by-election. And what we are wanting to do—

I’m sorry to interrupt the honourable member but the time has come for me to report progress.

Progress reported.

Report adopted.

The House adjourned at 12.56 p.m. (Wednesday)