Labor members of the committee wish to make clear that Labor has consistently opposed any form of voter identification laws. While the bill purports to act on the recommendation of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters (JSCEM), it should be noted that this recommendation was only supported by Government members. Labor members of JSCEM delivered dissenting reports for the inquiries into the elections of 2013, 2016 and 2019, voicing their opposition to voter ID. We reiterate those views.
As the majority of submitters to this inquiry have pointed out, there is no culture of voter fraud in Australia and without further evidence, there is no justification for voter identification laws. In fact, in evidence before this committee during Senate Estimates, the Electoral Commissioner described the number of multiple votes cast as ‘vanishingly small’. As the Australian Human Rights Commission noted in its submission to the inquiry, the number of multiple votes cast has never affected the outcome of an election. Most instances of multiple voting are of older or infirm people who have forgotten that they have already voted.
Voter ID laws result in the disenfranchisement of vulnerable electors, including Indigenous people, people escaping domestic violence and homeless people. These people should be supported to exercise their democratic right, not have barriers placed in their way. In addition, voter ID laws would substantially increase the administrative burden on the Australian Electoral Commission, which will lead to increased costs and delays at polling places.
It should also be noted that legislation has recently passed the Parliament to establish a designated elector register. Designated electors are those electors who the Electoral Commissioner has a reasonable suspicion of having voted more than once in an election. Designated electors will only be able to vote by declaration vote, ensuring that only one vote is counted. This, along with the increased use by the AEC of electronic certified lists, will address the very small number of instances of multiple voting.
Labor members of the committee wish to thank everyone who took the time to make a submission to the inquiry.