Mr JULL (Minister for Administrative Services)(10.03 p.m.) —On behalf of the committee appointed to draw up reasons for the House disagreeing to amendments Nos 1 to 8 and 10 to 68 of the Senate, I present the reasons, which are being circulated to honourable members.

The reasons read as follows—

Senate Amendment Number 1

The Amendment proposes a preamble be included which specifies the role of the Convention and the appointment and election of delegates to the Convention. The House of Representatives does not accept the Amendment, as it does not reflect the purpose and scope of the Bill.

Senate Amendments Numbers 2-8 and 11-68

These Amendments focus on the method of voting for half of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention which will meet for 10 days in December 1997 to consider the question of whether or not Australia should become a republic. The Amendments require that voting in the election be by a compulsory attendance ballot, which will make Australians who choose not to vote in the election for delegates liable to prosecution and add up to $20 million to the cost.

The Amendments also propose that the election be conducted along the lines of a Senate election. In light of the large number of candidates which could contest this election (possibly exceeding 200-300 candidates in New South Wales) a pure Senate "style" election would make it difficult for electors to vote for someone other than a group, and would extend the time needed to count the vote.

Accordingly, the House of Representatives opposes these Amendments (Numbers 2-8 and 11-68).

Senate Amendment Number 10

This Amendment provides that candidates' $500 nomination fee should be returned if the candidate is elected or the candidate/candidate group receives at least 4% of the total number of votes. Given the Government will be providing a tax deduction for election expenses up to a limit of $1,000 to candidates, whether successful or not, the House of Representatives does not accept Amendment Number 10.

Motion (by Mr Jull) agreed to:

That the committee's reasons be adopted.