At the last AGM I reported on the aims I had set for PRSA (NSW) for 2010. There were 3 ongoing aims -

• to adopt a public campaign to abolish above-the-line voting and the associated group voting tickets in federal, state and local government elections;
• to take action against the persistence of 2-member wards particularly in Botany Bay and Ku-ring-gai Councils; and
• to campaign for the adoption of a genuine PR electoral system for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.

These have become long term objectives – things don’t move quickly in the world of PR.

Our approaches to the now defeated NSW Labor Government to reform the local government voting procedures, especially with regard to the 2-member wards elected by block preferential voting, and the undemocratic nature of votes for Mayoral candidates being counted twice, was unsuccessful.  In fact our letters did not even merit a considered response. We will continue this campaign with the new Minister in the hope of more success.

In my last report, in July 2009, I reported on the aims I had set for PRSA (NSW) for 2009. There were 3 ongoing aims -

• to adopt a public campaign to abolish above-the-line voting and the associated group voting tickets in federal, state and local government elections;
• to take action against the persistence of 2-member wards particularly in Botany Bay and Ku-ring-gai Councils; and
• to campaign for the adoption of a genuine PR electoral system for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.

With regard to the abolition of above-the-line voting, we have still had no response from the other branches on their willingness or otherwise to join in such a campaign. PRSA (NSW) made a submission to the Green paper issued by the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters “Strengthening Australia’s democracy” focusing mainly on this issue. Other PRSA branches also made submissions. The White paper is yet to be issued.

There has been no progress on the local government front, probably due to the moribund nature of the NSW government.

I came into this job somewhat unexpectedly. Stephen Lesslie and I attended the AGM in 2006 because he was keen to have his PR proposal for the House of Representatives read and to get some feedback on it. We were received graciously, and the egg sandwiches were really nice.

We attended the 2007 AGM - maybe it was for the egg sandwiches - and were saddened to see even fewer numbers there than in 2006. I was nominated for the Committee, and, as it would have seemed churlish to say no, I accepted the nomination. The rest of the Committee then made me President, which was a shock, but I gulped and said OK.

John [Webber], John [Alexander] and John [Baglin] have been very supportive (and I can always remember their names).