Peter Hays

I find the Commission's recommendations to be well supported and reasonable, apart from the following:

I do not agree with the proposal for the party vote threshold of list seats to be lowered to 4%. I believe that there should be no change from the present 5%. I consider that insufficient weight has been given to the need for an effective and stable government and that the prospect of more minor parties being represented in Parliament by the suggested lowering to 4% would seriously jeopardize this.

It is recorded on page 15 that "(T)the 5% party threshold has proved to be a high hurdle". But this is its very purpose for the effective functioning of government,. and needs to be retained.

I note that the majority of the submissions received by the Commission supported a 5% threshold and I recommend that this be accepted by the Commission.