Transcript
KERRYN BAKER: I can see why the prime minister is suggesting it. I think there are some definite advantages to be seen in changing back to First Past the Post. LPV is costly and it hugely increases the amount of times it takes to count votes in PNG, which extends the length of the electiion process significantly. And I atjhink in addition to that what we have seen in the past three elections under LPV is a huge proliferation in money politics, in vote buying and gifting and that's affected electoral politics significantly. And arguably it is very much linked to Limited Preferential Voting and the fact that voters have three votes instead of just the one.
DON WISEMAN: So if they went back to FPP the amount of money that goes into trying to secure those votes would be a lot less.
KB: Ah it's possible. I mean you could argue that the extent of money politics might not actually decrease under FPP because the precedent has already been set, but in terms of the cost of the election process, paying counting staff and just the length of time it takes, I am certain that that cost would go down.
DW: There had been expectations that the preference voting system would give a more balanced parliament. That hasn't happpened has it?
KB: In terms of gender balance, certainly it hasn't. It was kind of anticipated that LPV would give women candidates a better chance, but we haven't really seen any evidence that that is the case, and certainly in the last election no women were elected, so there are currently no women at all in the PNG parliament.
DW: One of the characteristics of the PNG elections or parliamentary system prior to this change back in 2007 was that it was incredibly unstable. If you went back to FPP would that bring that instability back potentially.
KB: In terms of government turnover the changes really haven't come from the voting system change, it has come fromt he Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates, so that legislation is under review but it is a bit of separate issue to the electoral system.
DW: So overall you would say, well, an idea worth pursuing.
KB: it's definitely good I think that the electoral system is being debated in PNG. There's a lot of strong feelings on either side I think. There's a lot of people who like the LPV and don't want to see it go but at the same time I think there are clear advantages in changing back and those should be on the table. It's a good public debate to have.
