Mr FILING(9.08 p.m.) —Earlier on today I spoke about what I consider to be the tyranny of the executive. In fact, it is the tyranny of the big party system.

Mr Rocher —Executive imperialism.

Mr FILING —Executive imperialism. I mentioned an extract from the maiden speech of the Treasurer, the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party and honourable member for Higgins (Mr Costello), who said: `In the struggle between the executive and the parliament, I am for the parliament.' Yet here we see a situation where it is up to an independent member to propose to this chamber an amendment to the Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (No. 6) 1997, to the taxation laws, something which is fundamental to what would be a normal operating democratic system, and that is equality for all candidates. Why is it that a person who is representing a registered political party enjoys a superiority to somebody who is representing themselves as an independent candidate?

Mr Andren —It is the club.

Mr FILING —It is the big party club. It is the cosy arrangement we have in this place and in the Senate where the two big parties, the two big forces in Australian politics, collude amongst themselves to arrange things in such a way as to suit themselves. The member for Batman (Mr Martin Ferguson) is sitting there amusedly, talking to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister (Mr Miles), no doubt in that cosy little way that the big party members have, talking about how `we' can organise this and organise that. This perpetuates a system that militates against the democratic rights of the people.

Mr Andren —Aren't you glad you are out of it?

Mr FILING —The member for Calare asks me whether I am glad to be out of the system. I am, because I am able to represent my constituents in a way that I was never able to before. As an independent member I am able to represent them in a way that puts their interests first rather than the interests of a political party or some other body. I must say to the chamber that I find that far more satisfying than I ever did as a member of a party. I am not reflecting on members of the parties because I know that some go out of their way to represent their constituents within the limitations of party representation. But I cannot understand, for the life of me, why one particular candidate is treated differently from another. Why is a member of a party able to enjoy the opportunity of attracting donations that attract a tax deduction and another candidate is not? It is illogical, it is unfair, it is undemocratic and I believe it is un-Australian.

Why should that be the case? Even though the parliamentary committee that is charged with the responsibility of looking into electoral matters has come out with a recommendation that there be equality, it is up to an independent member to move the amendments necessary to bring that into force. In my view, not only is that disgraceful, it is anti-democratic and it reflects the cosy, familiar relationship that exists between the two major political blocs in our system to perpetuate themselves to the detriment of the constituents whom they are supposed to represent.

All I can say is that any member who opposes this amendment ought to be thoroughly ashamed of themselves because this represents, in essence, an opportunity to set the balance straight or to make the playing field level, as the government is often wont to describe its efforts to introduce some of its amendments or reforms to the way our economy works.

In conclusion, many people in this country today view our political system with a great deal of jaundice. They want something that is different. They want to be able to see alternatives. Unfortunately, our system militates against those alternatives by preventing anyone other than the major political parties from being able to accept donations that involve a tax deduction on the part of the donor. This amendment by the member for Curtin (Mr Rocher) moves to redress that inequality. In my view it is one of the most important amendments in recent times to ensure that this chamber, this parliament, reflects a truly democratic and accountable system. (Time expired)