Constitution (Parliamentary Reform) Act 2003
The
Constitution (Parliamentary Reform) Act 2003 was introduced into the Legislative Assembly by the Premier on 26 February 2003. On 27 March 2003, it was passed by an absolute majority of Members of the Legislative Council. Following its historic and significant passage, the Act was granted Royal Assent by His Excellency, the Governor, on 8 April 2003 and became law.
A plain English booklet,
"A Stronger, Fairer Democracy for Victoria" (Word Document, 151 KB) was prepared by the Department to assist the Members of Parliament and the Victorian people understand the Government's proposed changes to the Victorian Constitution. The booklet was the next step, following the
Constitution Commission's publications in ensuring that the Victorian people were appraised of the significance of the proposed reforms and the impact the Act will have on parliamentary and democratic processes in this State.
The Constitution (Parliamentary Reform) Act 2003 incorporates the following reforms to the Victorian Constitution Act 1975:
- Ending the uncertainty and speculation about election dates by setting a fixed date for elections every four years, with the next election to be held on 25 November 2006 and then every four years from that date on the last Saturday in November.
- Introducing fixed four year terms of Parliament for both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council, with all Members of both Houses of Parliament facing the Victorian electorate at every election.
- Reforming the Legislative Council to make it more democratic, by reducing the number of Members of the Legislative Council from 44 to 40, with five members each being elected from eight electoral regions using a system of proportional representation.
- Changing the way members are elected to the Legislative Council, with a new Senate-style system of ‘above the line’ voting, with ‘below the line’ optional preferential voting.
- Making the Legislative Council a more genuine house of review by removing the Council’s power to block a supply bill and requiring the Council to respect the Government’s mandate.
- Establishing a new procedure to settle disputes about proposed legislation between the two Houses of Parliament, bringing Victoria into line with Commonwealth Parliamentary procedures.
- Strengthening the Victorian Constitution, by allowing important core provisions to be changed only after a referendum of the Victorian people at a referendum.