[Greens-Media] MARK PARNELL MLC: Parties should pay by-election cost

[Parnell]

Media Release
Thursday 27th November, 2008

Parties should pay by-election cost 


In the wake of Rob Kerin's decision to leave his state seat of Frome, Greens MLC Mark Parnell will introduce a Bill into State Parliament that will force political parties to pay the cost of holding a by-election to replace a sitting member who retires early.

"Electorates are not owned by political parties, they are owned by the people," said Greens MLC Mark Parnell. 

"Whether it's Alexander Downer in Mayo, or Rob Kerin in Frome, if somebody has stood for Parliament promising to stay for a full term, and they decide to retire early, then taxpayers shouldn't have to pick up the tab to find their replacement," he said.

The Greens Private Member's Bill will:

§         require a political party to pay the cost of any by-election when one of their sitting members retires before the end of his or her four year term; 

§         allow for legitimate exceptions, such as death, major illness or significant family carer responsibilities (eg Tim Fischer retiring early to care for his autistic son) 

§         provide that if a party doesn't (or chooses not to) pay the costs then that party is not eligible to field a candidate in the resulting by-election. 

The cost for a by-election is estimated to be between $150,000 and $250,000.

"Political parties shouldn't be allowed to use by-elections to arrange their succession planning.  Why should taxpayers foot the Bill just to make it easy for political parties to bring in fresh faces?  

"By-elections cost a fortune and can be a major inconvenience for the community. Political parties who don't do the right thing by their community should be made to pick up the tab.  

"Under the Greens Bill, if they don't want to pay, they forfeit the right to stand a candidate," he said. 

	
For further comment contact Craig Wilkins on 0434 007 893

	


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