Title ELECTORAL AND REFERENDUM AMENDMENT (PRE-POLL VOTING AND OTHER MEASURES) BILL 2010
Second Reading
Database Senate Hansard
Date 17-06-2010
Source Senate
Parl No. 42
Electorate Victoria
Page 3633
Party LP
Status Final
Speaker Ronaldson, Sen Michael
Stage Second Reading
Context Bills
System Id chamber/hansards/2010-06-17/0147


ELECTORAL AND REFERENDUM AMENDMENT (PRE-POLL VOTING AND OTHER MEASURES) BILL 2010 - Second Reading


Senator RONALDSON (12:45 PM) —I have been told by the whip that I have 30 seconds. I think I can renegotiate that to a minute. I want to make a very quick comment in relation to this matter. It is a pity that we have had to go through a convoluted process, quite frankly, to get this non-controversial Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Pre-poll Voting and Other Measures) Bill 2010. The government breached convention in relation to these electoral bills. Historically, they have always gone in by way of two packages—one controversial and one noncontroversial. The government chose to bring them in together—so one bill with controversial and one with non-controversial measures. That of course then failed and they were required to split the bills according to convention and bring them back. I hope the government have learned a salutary lesson in relation to this matter.