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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)
ISBN 0642 468168
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.