The Proportional Representation Society of Australia has written to Jeff Kennett, Steve Bracks, Patrick McNamara, Russell Savage, Susan Davies and Craig Ingram to highlight the unfairness of Victoria's Upper House electoral system. We call for legislation for a proportional representation electoral system for the Legislative Council, as applies for each other Upper House in mainland Australia:
Gross Over-representation of the Coalition Parties: The Coalition appears to have won 13 of the 22 seats for long-term MLCs (59.1%) up for election in 1999, although its first preference vote was just 46.8% of the state-wide vote.
The Liberals won 10 of the 22 seats (45.5%), despite their state-wide first preference vote being only 38.8%. A fair system would have given them 9 seats (40.9%). The Nationals won 3 seats (13.6%) from 8.0% of the vote, which should have earnt them only 2 seats (9.1%). The Coalition should therefore have only gained 11 (50.0%) of the long-term MLCs, and not an absolute majority of them as they did.
Gross Under-representation of Other Parties: The Australian Labor Party won 9 of the 22 long-term seats (40.9%), which was close to its 41.6% of the vote, but the remaining two long-term MLCs (9.1%) should, on the basis of the 6.4% and 5.2% of the vote they would have reached respectively when no more than 11 Coalition and 9 ALP candidates could gain a quota, be an Australian Democrat candidate, and possibly a candidate of the Green party.
Striking Contrast with the Fair and Representative Nature of the NSW Upper House: At the NSW Legislative Council polls in March 1999, to fill 21 seats, 7 were won by candidates other than ALP or Coalition candidates (the ALP won 8 and the Coalition won 6), after these other candidates gained 35.3% of the state-wide first preference votes. There are no such MLCs in Victoria, even though such candidates in Victoria gained 11.6% of the state-wide first preference vote in 1999.
How a Hare-Clark Proportional Electoral System Would Correct Victoria's Problem: Dr Naish said, "The accompanying Proportional Representation Analysis, which also appears on our Web site above, shows how a Hare-Clark proportional electoral system would overcome this gross unfairness and unreasonableness in Victoria's electoral system. It would give all voters more choice of political representation, and ensure that nearly all voters would have an MLC in their multi-member province that they preferred. The Proportional Representation Society calls on all parties to support introduction of legislation for a Hare-Clark proportional electoral system for the Legislative Council."
Contact: Dr Lee Naish, President, Victorian Branch, Proportional Representation Society of Australia, E-mail: lee@cs.mu.oz.au