REVISION OF THE VOTING FRANCHISE

That this House recognises that a franchise based upon geographic location served the country well down the centuries when a relatively simple, rural life allowed the interests of people engaged in such basic activities as coal, iron, cattle, sheep, fish, etc., to be relatively easily identified with those geographic areas or even townships and thereby their political interests to be recognised and well represented by Members elected to this House by elections based upon a geographic franchise; believes that in this age of multi-activity neighbourhoods it is sometimes exceptionally difficult for honourable Members to fairly represent the often inherently conflicting interests of their constituents; accepts that this leads to considerable grass-roots frustration with the democratic process, but as it is unlikely that any change to the basis of the present geographic franchise will be made, decides to give serious consideration, when determining the franchise for future elected bodies, to the establishment of a franchise based upon occupation, rather then geographic location of dwelling, this yielding to the pressure already manifest by the increasing demand for effective occupational, professional and special interest representation; and hopes that such an idea will lead the country to take yet another international initiative in the evolution of viable representative democracy.