Senator Robert Ray asked the Special Minister of State, upon notice, on 8 March 1999:

What was the extent and cost of habitation reviews undertaken by the Australian Electoral Commission between March 1996 and October 1998.

Senator Ellison (Special Minister of State) —The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

Habitation reviews or roll reviews, including inquiry at habitable addresses by field staff, review by mail (particularly in rural areas) and general checks on address details are organised and carried out by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) at the state and territory level. The reviews undertaken for the period requested are set out below.

(a) New South Wales: A full review using both fieldwork and mail review was undertaken between February and July 1998 and the total cost was $5.5 million.

(b) Victoria: During 1997/98 targeted review activity was undertaken in country and outer Melbourne areas in connection with rural road numbering. The total cost was $95,000. From February to August 1998 a review of non-rural areas was undertaken by fieldwork and by limited mail review. The total cost was $3.5 million.

(c) Queensland: Between July 1996 and January 1997 a pilot study of a continuous roll update was undertaken in Queensland using Australia Post's change of address data backed up with limited fieldwork, at a total cost of $450,000. A full review using both fieldwork and mail review was undertaken between July 1997 and February 1998. The total cost was $3 million.

(d) South Australia: Pre review checks of vacant habitations and postal address checks were undertaken between March 96 and June 1997 at a cost of $17,000. A full review using both fieldwork and mail review was undertaken between July 1997 and October 1998. The total cost was $1.1 million.

(e)Western Australia: A full review using both fieldwork and mailing was undertaken between February and August 1998, at a total cost of $1.7 million.

(f) Tasmania: In 1996/97, $20,000 was expended on limited change of address mailings plus checks on rural addresses. Between August and October 1997 a full state review was undertaken, at a total cost of $420,000. In June 1998 review mailing to vacant addresses took place, at a total cost of $15,000.

(g) Australian Capital Territory: A partial review of high growth areas took place between February and May 1997, at a total cost of $30,000. A full review took place between August 1997 and February 1998, at a total cost of $280,000.

(h) Northern Territory: Limited review activity targeting high growth areas took place between April and June 1997, at a total cost of $65,000. A full review of the Territory took place between February and August 1998, at a total cost of $260,000. Note that while all fieldwork was completed prior to the 1998 federal election certain follow up activities were not finished by October 1998.

(i) National Review Activities: Prior to the close of rolls for the Constitutional Convention Election in 1997, national mailing took place to vacant addresses held by the AEC and to addresses at which Australia Post had received a change of address notification. Total cost of this roll review activity was approximately $1 million. So that enrolment forms can be obtained from new citizens, the AEC arranges for the pre-printing of enrolment forms with citizenship certificates and their collection at ceremonies at an annual cost of $350,000.