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Senate voting reforms in doubt

Voters could be confronted with big ballot papers full of odd-ball candidates at the next Federal election, with claims the Government has gone cold on Senate voting reforms.

_The West Australian _understands independent senators believe a wide-ranging package of voting reforms has been taken off the table as Government seeks to navigate a volatile Upper House.

Earlier this year a bipartisan committee rushed out a report calling for the system of Senate voting to be overhauled in a bid to prevent so-called micro-parties "gaming" the electoral system. The report - backed by the coalition, Labor and the Greens - called for the system of group voting tickets in the Senate to be junked. Instead, preferential above-the-line voting and partial optional preferential voting below the line should be introduced.

Voters at last year's election and at the WA Senate vote re-run were confronted with huge and confusing ballot papers as dozens of micro-parties sought office. Many micro-parties cut complicated preference deals in a bid to get each other into office despite receiving only a small number of votes.

Ricky Muir of the Motoring Enthusiast Party was elected with 0.51 per cent of the vote.

The Government has not responded to the report, though some of the measures are supposed to be in place at least a year before the next election. Independents and Clive Palmer have threatened havoc in the Senate if the Government pushes ahead with the reforms.

A spokesman for the minister responsible for voting reforms, Special Minister of State Michael Ronaldson, said no decision had been made. "The report and any future reports by the (committee) will be considered by the Government," the spokesman said.