The Electoral Reform Society of South Australia (ERSSA) has congratulated Business SA for bringing electoral reform to the forefront of public debate during the State election campaign.
Deane Crabb, Secretary of the Society, said the organisation was encouraged by many of the proposals contained in Business SA’s policy platform.
“The Society supports the recommendations of Business SA for optional preferential voting, randomised candidate order on ballot papers, the appointment of an independent Speaker from outside Parliament, and electronic voting by Parliamentarians,” Mr Crabb said.
“We are also pleased that Business SA supports the retention of proportional representation as the method of electing the Legislative Council.”
Missed Opportunity: Proportional Representation for the Lower House
However, Mr Crabb expressed disappointment that Business SA had not extended its support for proportional representation to the House of Assembly, South Australia’s lower house.
“Business SA appears to be concerned about the problems associated with hung parliaments,” he said.
“But without reforming the method of electing the House of Assembly, hung parliaments are likely to continue in this State.”
Mr Crabb pointed to Tasmania’s Hare–Clark electoral system as a successful model for fairer representation and stable government.
“In Tasmania, where the Hare–Clark method of proportional representation is used to elect the House of Assembly, there have been fewer hung parliaments than in South Australia,” he said.
“At present, the Tasmanian Labor Government holds a clear majority of seats.”
Why Proportional Representation Matters
Mr Crabb explained that Hare–Clark not only ensures fairer outcomes, but also gives voters greater choice and accountability.
“With Hare–Clark, electors have a choice not only between political parties, but also among individual candidates within each party,” he said.
“As a result, there is less incentive for voters to turn to independents or minor parties – the system itself provides genuine choice and competition.”
The Electoral Reform Society believes South Australia’s current system – single-member electorates with full preferential voting – often leaves a large share of voters effectively unrepresented.
“At the last South Australian election, 45% of electors cast votes that did not help to elect a Member of Parliament,” Mr Crabb noted.
“Of these, almost 80% had voted for either Liberal or Labor.”
A Call for Fairer Representation
The Society argues that an electoral system where nearly half of all votes fail to influence the outcome is in need of reform.
“Surely a system is required to ensure that all votes count at future elections,” Mr Crabb said.
“Proportional representation for both houses would make our Parliament more representative, reduce voter frustration, and strengthen democratic legitimacy.”
Background
- Business SA’s electoral reform proposals include:
- Introducing optional preferential voting;
- Listing candidates on ballot papers in random order;
- Appointing an independent Speaker from outside Parliament;
- Implementing electronic voting by Members of Parliament; and
- Retaining proportional representation for the Legislative Council.
- The Electoral Reform Society of South Australia supports all these proposals and continues to advocate for extending proportional representation to the House of Assembly through the Hare–Clark system, as used in Tasmania and the ACT.
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