PNL UNIT 2: Western Australia Electoral Reform

What were the two major issues with WA’s upper house (Legislative Council) prior to 2021?

1. Group voting tickets

2. Malapportioned regional electorates

Describe what group voting tickets (GVTs) are

A GVT is what determines in advance where a party’s above the line votes will be distributed to once a candidate is elected or excluded.

Voters who mark above the line have their preferences flow based on the party's lodged preference order.

Abolished in federal Senate in 2016 but kept in wa till 2021

Describe malapportioned regional electorates

This was when the Legislative Council was divided in 3 metropolitan and 3 rural regions each with equal representation

Each elected 6 members regardless of size

Violated one vote, one value as voters in rural regions had 6x more valuable votes

Give an example of both GVTs and malapportioned regional electorates in action

In 2021 WA election the daylight savings party won seat in legislative council with only 98 primary votes

Only happened because of GVTS AND malapportioned regional electorates