Advisory Report on the Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Improving Electoral Administration) Bill 2012


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Advisory Report on the Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Improving Electoral Administration) Bill 2012

27 February 2013

© Commonwealth of Australia 2013

ISBN 978-0-642-79851-0 (Printed version)
ISBN 978-0-642-79852-7 (HTML version)

View the report as a single document - (PDF 1.86MB)


View the report as separate downloadable parts:

Preliminary pages (PDF 273KB)
 
Chapter 1 Introduction (PDF 342KB)

Referral of the Bill
Overview and purpose of the Bill
Premature opening of a ballot box
Pre-poll voting arrangements
Postal voting deadline
Electoral boundary redistributions
Use of taxpayer information
Other amendments
Date of effect
Objective and conduct of the inquiry

 
Chapter 2 Issues in the Bill (PDF 286KB)

Overview
Premature opening of a ballot box
Analysis
Conclusion
Pre-poll voting arrangements
Analysis
Conclusion
Use of taxpayer information
Analysis
Conclusion

 
Dissenting report – The Hon Bronwyn Bishop MP, The Hon Alex Somlyay MP, Senator Scott Ryan and Senator Simon Birmingham (PDF 715KB)

Introduction
Schedule 1, Part 1, Taxation Administration Act 1953
 Schedule 1, Part 1, Amendments – Negate requirement to have a signed certificate for a pre-poll ordinary vote
Schedule 1, Part 1, Amendments – Opening of pre-polling before election day
Schedule 1, Part 1, Amendments - excluding of votes contained within a prematurely opened ballot box.

 
Appendix A – Submissions (PDF 64KB)
 
Appendix B – Hearing and Witnesses (PDF 72KB)
 
Appendix C – Report on irregularities relating to the opening of ballot boxes at certain Pre-poll Voting Offices in the Divisions of Boothby and Flynn (PDF 169KB)

Background
Methodology
Legislative Changes
Ballot Boxes containing Ordinary votes
Oaklands Park PPVO
Contributing factors
Conclusion
Blackwater PPVO
Contributing factors
Conclusion
Emerald PPVO
Contributing factors
Conclusion
Recommended changes to minimise future mistakes at a PPVO
Conclusion

 
Appendix D – Legal advice from the Australian Government Solicitor (PDF 109KB)

Issues with Ballot-Boxes Containing Pre-Poll Ordinary Ballot Papers
Summary of Advice
Background
Advice

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