2023-02-22
A Greens’ motion calling on the Victorian Labor Government to establish an independent review of the state’s group voting system has passed the Upper House.
The motion was passed this afternoon with the support of the Opposition and the majority of the cross-bench, after a lengthy debate.
This marks the first time the Upper House has acknowledged the need to fix Victoria’s undemocratic and broken group voting system, and now leaves Labor alone in its refusal to act.
Leader of the Victorian Greens, Samantha Ratnam, said group voting tickets had been abandoned in all Australian jurisdictions except Victoria, and for good reason.
She added that until Victoria fixed its voting system, elections would be open to corruption and the Upper House wouldn’t represent the people it serves.
Quotes attributable to Leader of the Victorian Greens, Samantha Ratnam MLC:
“Our motion passing today has sent a clear message to the Labor Government from the Upper House – that group voting tickets are undemocratic and need to be scrapped.
“Group voting tickets distort the will of voters. Backroom preference deals decide who sits in our Parliament and mean that candidates with ten times the vote lose out to others.
“Until we fix our voting system, our elections will be open to corruption and our Upper House won't represent the people it serves.
“We hope the Government heeds our call and urgently establishes an independent expert panel to review this broken system, and make recommendations for change."