REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Tuesday, April 22, 1986

THE Federal Government inquiry into Queensland’s electoral boundaries was slammed as a “farce and a waste of money” by one of the committee members conducting the inquiry.

The blast of criticism came from Tweed-based MP Charles Blunt at the end of the first day of the committee’s two-day hearing in Brisbane.

Mr Blunt described the inquiry as a “bit of political grandstanding”.

Within minutes of the opening of the committee’s public hearings in Brisbane, the proceedings had degenerated into an argument between the chairman, Senator Robert Ray and one of the committee members, Senator Sir john Carrick.

Senator Ray, an ALP-member of parliament and Senator Carrick, a Liberal, clashed over Senator Carrick’s questioning of Dr Peter Coaldrake of Griffith University.

When Senator Ray attempted to rule on the issue and “establish the definition of a preferred vote”, Senator Carrick accused him of reflecting a “subjective” viewpoint.

“I won’t be making a decision on your behalf,” Senator Ray responded in what he later described as a “little dispute”.

The Joint Select Committee on Electoral Reform had 11 members, six of whom were Labor, two Liberals, one National, a Democrat and an independent.

The committee’s inquiry referred to a private members Bill sponsored by Democrat Michael Macklin seeking the introduction of a one vote, one value electoral system in Queensland and Western Australia.