Hansard debates

Mr SOMYUREK: Let me put this into perspective, Dr Ratnam. What you are suggesting—the reform you are suggesting—will immediately take 59 per cent of voters off the voting roll. That is a huge move. It is easy to say that when you are not in government and you are not the responsible minister responsible for doing this. That is a lot of people to disenfranchise overnight. Let us also understand that voting rights and the rights for ratepayers have been a feature of Victorian local government since the 1800s. We think we have struck the right balance for the time being between your position and, let us say, the status quo as reflected in the Liberal Party’s position.