Electoral reform part of Lib deal

Liberal leader Colin Barnett has offered to introduce electoral reforms to help the Nationals WA retain their new power base as part of his successful deal with the regional party.

In letter to Nationals leader Brendon Grylls, Mr Barnett offered to amend the Electoral Act to reduce by 80 per cent the definition of a large district for the purpose of allowances and entrench the need for a referendum should a future government seek to reduce the number of regional seats in the state’s Legislative Council.

The Liberals are also prepared to discuss legislating that future daylight saving trials could only be held with a referendum and possible agreement that each party would not oppose serving ministers in future elections.

Sources say the negotiations could go much further than this.

One suggestion is for a cap on election spending per candidate, a move that would diminish the ability of the major parties to use their election machines to target minority party electorates.

The Labor Party did not appear to make any offer in the electoral reform in its letter to Mr Grylls.