The Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Dr Steve Thomas says that the passing of the Upper House electoral reform bill in the Legislative Council overnight may represent the achievement of 120 years of Labor Party ambition but was a bitter blow for regional communities.
“Labor has achieved its long-held goal of gutting regional representation and boosting their electoral chances by shifting seats into metropolitan Perth” Dr Thomas said.
“The standard of your highways, your schools and your hospitals are dependent on the level of your representation, and slashing that representation will inevitable impact badly on regional communities.”
“It impacts on the level of service you receive and the standard – in fact the very existence – of the facilities you get to use and enjoy in the regions.”
Dr Thomas said that the late night sitting, in which the Bill finally passed its third reading stage around 1.30am, meant that the Bill was debated in the Legislative Council for nearly two and a half parliamentary sitting weeks. This reflects the detail in which the Bill was examined and the passion of the Opposition to protect regional people and communities.
“It may well be a great day for the Labor Party in Western Australia, but it is a sad day for democracy and a devastating day for regional communities, families and people”