1998-1999-2000-2001

 

 

 

THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

 

 

 

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

 

 

 

ELECTORAL AND REFERENDUM AMENDMENT BILL (No. 1) 2001

 

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTARY EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

 

 

 

Amendments to be Moved on Behalf of the Government

 

 

 

(Circulated with the authority of the

Special Minister of State,

Senator the Honourable Eric Abetz)

 

 

 

 

 

 

ELECTORAL AND REFERENDUM AMENDMENT BILL (No. 1) 2001

 

 

 

OUTLINE

 

The amendments to be moved on behalf of the Government amend the Electoral and Referendum Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2001 (the Bill) consequential to the amendments at Items 35, 74 and 75 of Schedule 1 of the Bill and Items 2 and 35 of Schedule 2, which provide that ballot papers are to be initialled on the top of the front rather than on the back as is currently required .

 

The proposed amendments are to the provisions relating to the initialling of postal and pre-poll ballot papers and the ballot papers marked by the Australian Electoral Officer (AEO) for Tasmania (as the AEO appointed for the purpose by the Electoral Commissioner) on behalf of electors based in Antarctica .  This will ensure consistency, in regard to the ballot paper initialling requirements, throughout both the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (the CEA) and the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 (the RMPA).

 

 

 

FINANCIAL IMPACT STATEMENT

 

There will be no costs involved in the implementation of these amendments

NOTES ON CLAUSES

 

 

Amendments to Schedules 1 and 2 of the Bill

 

Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 .

 

 

Amendments (1) to (5) - Initialling of ballot papers

1.         These proposed amendments insert Items 28A, 29A and 40A to Schedule 1 and 11A, 12A and 12B to Schedule 2 of the Bill to provide that postal and pre-poll issuing officers and the Australian Electoral Officer (AEO) for Tasmania must also initial the top of the front of the ballot papers rather than the back as is currently required .

2.         The proposed amendments are consequential to the proposed amendments at Items 35, 74 and 75 of Schedule 1 of the Bill and Items 2 and 35 of Schedule 2, which provide that ballot papers are to be initialled on the top of the front by issuing officers in polling places, rather than on the back as is currently required.

3.         The need for the consequential amendments, relating to the initialling of postal and pre-poll ballot papers by issuing officers, and the initialling of ballot papers marked by the AEO for Tasmania (as the AEO appointed for the purpose by the Electoral Commissioner) on behalf of electors based in Antarctica, was overlooked during the initial drafting process.