AEC Annual Report 2005–06

for only Archived historical research Produced by: Australian Electoral Commission Project managed by: Shirley Weber Printed by: National Capital Printing (02) 6280for 7477 Coordinated and edited by: WordsWorth Writing (02) 6232 7511 Designed by: Sprout Design (02) 6161 0226 Web address of this report: www.aec.gov.au/what/publications Contact officer: Director, Media Section Australian Electoral Commission West Block Offices Queen Victoria Terrace Parkes ACT 2600 PO Box 6172 Kingston ACT 2604 only Telephone: (02) 6271 4411 Fax: (02) 6271 4558 Email: [email protected] ArchivedWebsite: www.aec.gov.au historical ISSN 0814-4508 © Commonwealth of Australia 2006 This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Australian Government, available from the Attorney-General’s Department. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Commonwealth Copyright Administration, Copyright Law Branch, Attorney-General’s Department, National Circuit, Barton ACT 2601, or postedresearch at www.ag.gov.au/cca. 2005–06 Annual Report ii for only Letter of transmittal Archived historical research 2005–06 Annual Report iii for only Archived historical research Contents Letter of transmittal iii About this report 1 Electoral Commissioner’s review for Electoral Commissioner’s review 4 Significant events 6 AEC overview Overview of the AEC 10 Partnerships 19 Report on performance: Outcome 1 Outcome 1—An effective electoral roll 24 Output 1.1.1—Electoral roll 29 Output 1.1.2—Electoral roll updates 34 Output 1.1.3—Roll products and services only39 Output 1.1.4—Support services for electoral redistributions 41 Report on performance: Outcome 2 Outcome 2—An impartial and independent electoral system 44 Output 2.1.1—Federal elections, by-elections and referendums 48 ArchivedOutput 2.1.2—Party registrations 52 Output 2.1.3—Funding and disclosure services 54 Output 2.1.4—Publichistorical awareness campaigns and media releases 56 Output 2.1.5—Information services 60 Output 2.1.6—Industrial elections and ballots for organisations 62 Output 2.1.7—ATSIC elections 65 Output 2.1.8—State and local government elections 66 Output 2.1.9—Advice and assistance in overseas elections 70 Report on performance: Outcome 3 Outcome 3—An informed community 78 Output 3.1.1—Electoralresearch education centres 82 Output 3.1.2—School and community programs 89 2005–06 Annual Report Management and accountability Corporate governance 99 Support services 108 Legal services 110 External scrutiny 111 Management of human resources 113 Purchasing 120 Assets management 121 Consultants and competitive tendering and contracting 122 Providing access for people with disabilities for 124 Financial performance and future operations Analysis of financial performance 128 Developments that have affected or may affect operations 129 Financial statements 131 Appendices Appendix A—Staffing overview 184 Appendix B—Occupational health and safety 188 Appendix C—Freedom of information 191 Appendix D—Advertising and market research 195 Appendix E—Provision of electoral roll information only196 Appendix F—Ecologically sustainable development 207 Appendix G—Consultancies 209 Appendix H—Industrial and fee-for-service elections statistics 211 Appendix I—Publications 213 ArchivedAbbreviations list 214 Indexes Compliance historicalindex 216 General index 218 research 2005–06 Annual Report i About this report This annual report of the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) documents the AEC’s performance for the financial year ending 30 Junefor 2006. Structure The annual report begins with an ‘Overview’ section, which includes: • the Electoral Commissioner’s review of performance in 2005–06 and the outlook for 2006–07 • an overview of the AEC, including explanations of its legislative basis and structure • summaries of the year’s significant events and partnerships. The next three sections detail the AEC’s performance, including: • performance in meeting the indicators and targets of the organisation’s outcomes and outputs framework, as set out in the 2005–06 Portfolio Budget Statements only • performance in relation to management and accountability responsibilities, such as internal governance, external scrutiny, human resources management, purchasing, assets management, providing access for people with disabilities, and use of consultants and competitive tendering and contracting Archived• financial performance, including the audited financial statements for 2005–06. The main report ishistorical followed by: • appendices that provide certain detailed information and statistics required to be reported by legislative and other reporting requirements • a list of the abbreviations used in the report, a compliance index and a general index. Readers This report is presented for tabling in both Houses of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia. It is also designed to meet the information needs of the AEC’s stakeholders and customers, including:research • eligible electors • political participants, such as members of parliament, political parties, electoral 2005–06 Annual Report candidates and interest groups • the media and commentators • State, Territory and international electoral authorities • other government agencies—federal, State, Territory and local • students, teachers and researchers • AEC staff. The report is available free of charge in hard copy or via the AEC website, www.aec.gov.au. Contact officer For more information about the annual report, contact the Director, Media Section, at the address shown below. General contact details for the AEC are also shown in the Overview section of this report. for Web address of this report: www.aec.gov.au/what/publications Contact officer: Director, Media Section Australian Electoral Commission West Block Offices Queen Victoria Terrace Parkes ACT 2600 PO Box 6172 Kingston ACT 2604 only Telephone: (02) 6271 4411 Fax: (02) 6271 4558 Email: [email protected] ArchivedWebsite: www.aec.gov.a u historical research 2005–06 Annual Report Electoral Commissioner’s reiew Significantfor e ents only Archived historical research Electoral Commissioner’s reiew Ian Campbell The AEC’s operations in the 2005–06 financial year were shaped by the significant changes that occurred within both the Australian electoral system and the organisation itself. These changes created both challenges and opportunitiesfor for the work of the AEC throughout the year. The AEC’s focus in responding to these changes was to ensure that their implementation would contribute to our commitment of continually improving the delivery of electoral services to the Australian community. Among the most noteworthy changes were those that came into effect with the Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Electoral Integrity and Other Measures) Act 2006, which received Royal Assent on 22 June 2006. Although these changes became law only at the very end of the financial year, the AEC invested a considerable amount of time and resources throughout the year to ensure the organisation was in a position to administer the changes following the passage of legislation. The changes made by the Act will affect a wide variety of electoral administration processes that AEC staff will undertake prior to the next federal election.only The AEC recognises the need to implement a substantial external communications program well in advance of the next federal election, in particular to publicise new enrolment procedures including close of roll arrangements for when the election is called. As part of this process independent market research was commissioned in May 2006 to help shape a communications Archivedstrategy, including methods to target younger eligible electors. This was also an important year in our ongoing preparations for the next federal election, directed by the AEC’shistorical purpose to continually improve the electoral services we provide to the Australian community. While we continued to review and implement the lessons learnt from the 2004 election, we were also mindful that preparations need to have regard to the changing electoral environment. During the year the AEC expanded its involvement in the area of industrial elections due to amendments to the Workplace Relations Act 1996. These amendments introduced a requirement with effect from 27 March 2006 for protected action ballots to be held before protected industrial action can be taken. Under this legislation, the AEC conducts protected action ballots whenresearch appointed by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. This year we conducted eight such ballots. The AEC’s experience, professionalism and decentralised structure made us ideal to meet the specific requirements of these ballots. 2005–06 Annual Report A major commitment of the AEC is to continue to strengthen our relationships including open dialogue with our many stakeholders, including Australian electors, the Australian Parliament, and State, Territory and international colleagues. iew re A key measure of the AEC’s relationship with parliamentary stakeholders during this period Electoral was our involvement in the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters inquiry into the Commissioner’s 2004 election. During the year the AEC provided submissions and technical advice to enlighten public discussion about the administration of current or proposed electoral legislation. The elections held in Tasmania and South Australia in March provided

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