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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.


ROYAL COMMISSION (HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTIONS) BILL 2003

2002-2003

The Parliament of the
Commonwealth of Australia

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES




Presented and read a first time









Royal Commission (House of Representatives elections) Bill 2003

No. , 2003

(Mr Organ)



A Bill for an Act to provide for the appointment of a Royal Commission to investigate the implementation of a system of proportional representation for elections of the House of Representatives, and for related purposes




Contents


A Bill for an Act to provide for the appointment of a Royal Commission to investigate the implementation of a system of proportional representation for elections of the House of Representatives, and for related purposes

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

^1 Short title

This Act may be cited as the Royal Commission (House of Representatives elections) Act 2003.

^2 Commencement

This Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

^3 Purpose of Act

The purpose of this Act is to establish a Royal Commission of inquiry to determine an appropriate model and method of implementation of a system of proportional representation for the conduct of elections of the House of Representatives, pursuant to section 29 of the Constitution.

^4 Appointment and powers of the Royal Commission

(1) The Governor-General is, by force of this section, empowered to issue, by Letters Patent in the name of the Queen, a Commission, directed to such person as he thinks fit, requiring or authorizing that person to make inquiry and report on subjects specified in the Letters Patent, being –


(a) The inadequacies of the current electoral system employed by the House of Representatives, including but not being limited to:

(i) the reasons that have permitted Governments to be formed in the House of Representatives without a majority of the Australian electorate voting for that Government; and

(ii) the unreasonable quantity of voters that receive no representation for their chosen candidate or party in House of Representatives elections.


(b) The benefits of reforming the current electoral system employed by the House of Representatives to enable:

(i) the Government of the day to have the support of the majority of the Australian electorate;

(ii) all voters to be represented by their candidate of choice as far as is reasonably practicable; and

(iii) an assessment of the merits and alternative versions of elections that could be conducted using a system of proportional representation.


(2) The Commissioner so appointed has all the powers, rights and privileges which are specified in the Royal Commissions Act 1902, as appertaining to a Royal Commission and the provisions of that Act have effect as if they were enacted in this Act and in terms made applicable to the Commissioner.

 


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