DOCSLIB.ORG

The 1998 Federal Election and Matters Related Thereto

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The 1998 Federal Election and Matters Related Thereto The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia 7KH)HGHUDO(OHFWLRQ Report of the Inquiry into the conduct of the 1998 Federal Election and matters related thereto House of Representatives Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters June 2000 Canberra © Commonwealth of Australia 2000 ISBN Photograph courtesy of the Australian Electoral Commission Cover by Octavo &RQWHQWV Foreword...............................................................................................................................................ix Membership of the Committee..............................................................................................................xi Terms of reference ............................................................................................................................. xiii List of abbreviations.............................................................................................................................xv List of recommendations.................................................................................................................... xvii Executive summary ......................................................................................................................... xxvii Chapter 1 – Introduction...................................................................................................... xxvii Chapter 2 – Pre-election ...................................................................................................... xxvii Chapter 3 – Election day....................................................................................................... xxix Chapter 4 – After the close of polls..................................................................................... xxix Chapter 5 – Other issues....................................................................................................... xxx THE REPORT 1 Introduction...........................................................................................................1 The 1998 Federal Election ........................................................................................................... 1 Scope and conduct of the inquiry................................................................................................. 4 Structure of the report .................................................................................................................. 6 2 Pre-election ...........................................................................................................9 Selection of AEC staff................................................................................................................ 9 Other elections on polling day................................................................................................ 12 Public awareness of the election............................................................................................ 12 iv Enrolment.................................................................................................................................. 14 Accuracy of the Commonwealth Electoral Roll .......................................................................... 17 Offensive names......................................................................................................................... 21 Access to Roll............................................................................................................................. 24 Nomination................................................................................................................................ 27 Senate nomination issues .......................................................................................................... 28 Death of a candidate .................................................................................................................. 30 Independent candidate nomination issues................................................................................. 32 Political campaigns.................................................................................................................. 32 Authorisation of electoral advertising ......................................................................................... 34 Caretaker conventions ............................................................................................................... 36 How To Vote cards..................................................................................................................... 37 Truth in political advertising........................................................................................................ 42 Dear neighbour letters................................................................................................................ 44 Declaration voting .................................................................................................................... 45 Increase in declaration voting..................................................................................................... 47 Pre-poll voting............................................................................................................................. 48 Antarctic voters........................................................................................................................... 52 Postal voting............................................................................................................................... 52 Mobile polling ........................................................................................................................... 60 Remote mobile polling team 16, Northern Territory ................................................................... 61 Problems on other mobile teams................................................................................................ 64 3 Election day.........................................................................................................67 Polling booths........................................................................................................................... 67 Polling booth concerns............................................................................................................... 69 Ballot paper shortages ............................................................................................................... 71 Railway Side polling booth – Alice Springs ................................................................................ 72 Voting on election day ............................................................................................................. 78 Assisted voting ........................................................................................................................... 78 Provisional voting ....................................................................................................................... 84 Voting by prisoners..................................................................................................................... 89 Fraudulent enrolment and voting ........................................................................................... 90 Accuracy of the Commonwealth Electoral Roll .......................................................................... 90 v Security of ballot papers............................................................................................................. 91 Fraud in particular Divisions....................................................................................................... 92 Dual and multiple voting............................................................................................................. 93 Voting in the name of a deceased person.................................................................................. 97 Conclusion.................................................................................................................................. 98 4 After the close of poll.........................................................................................99 Conduct of the count ............................................................................................................... 99 Distribution of first preferences................................................................................................... 99 Two candidate preferred count...................................................................................................99 Fresh scrutiny........................................................................................................................... 102 Preliminary scrutiny of declaration votes.................................................................................. 102 Declaration of poll..................................................................................................................... 103 Recount procedures ................................................................................................................. 104 Scrutiny of Senate ballot papers .............................................................................................. 104 National tally room.................................................................................................................... 105 Compulsory voting................................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Second Reading Speech
    DRAFT SECOND READING SPEECH HON WILL HODGMAN MP Constitution Amendment (House of Assembly Electoral Boundaries) Bill 2018 *check Hansard for delivery* I move – That the Constitution Amendment (House of Assembly Electoral Boundaries) Bill 2018 now be read for the second time. The Commonwealth recently reviewed the House of Representatives boundaries in Tasmania. This review was part of an independent redistribution of federal electoral boundaries, required under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918. The previous redistribution of the federal electoral boundaries in Tasmania was completed in 2009. The redistribution of electoral boundaries usually reflects population changes to ensure an even and fair allocation of voters among the electorates. Having even electorates is an important element of retaining ‘fairness’ in our voting system and indeed our democracy. On 14 November 2017, the Commonwealth augmented Electoral Commission for Tasmania announced new boundaries for the federal electorates in Tasmania. The augmented Commission consisted of the three members of the Australian Electoral Commission, the Australian Electoral Officer for Tasmania, Mr David Molnar, the Surveyor-General of Tasmania, Mr Michael Giudici, and the Auditor-General of Tasmania, Mr Rod Whitehead. The augmented Commission also announced that the division of ‘Denison’ be renamed to the division of ‘Clark’. This name change recognises the role of Andrew Inglis Clark in the creation of the Australian Federation. The new name and boundary changes will apply from the next federal election. However, these Commonwealth changes do not automatically apply as State electoral boundaries in Tasmania. In the past, the Tasmanian Parliament has chosen to adopt the Commonwealth House of Representatives boundaries for the purposes of House of Assembly divisions by amending the Constitution Act 1934 to ensure they coincide.
    [Show full text]
  • Election Day Polling Booths (Information As at 28 March 2020) Polling Booths Will Be Open on Election Day (Saturday, 28 March 2020) from 8Am to 6Pm
    2020 Local government elections - Election day polling booths (information as at 28 March 2020) Polling booths will be open on election day (Saturday, 28 March 2020) from 8am to 6pm. Polling booth locations may be subject to change. Changes are listed at the bottom of this table, or check the ECQ website for updated information or phone 1300 881 665. Local government area Ward / Division Booth Name Disability Access Address Aurukun Shire Council Aurukun LG Full Wo’uw Koalam Community Centre, Cnr Tal Tal Street and McKenzie Drive, AURUKUN Boulia Shire Council Boulia LG Full Shire Hall, Herbert Street, BOULIA Brisbane City Council All Wards Brisbane City Hall None Brisbane City Hall, Sandgate Room, (Ann Street entrance), BRISBANE Brisbane City Council Bracken Ridge Brisbane City Hall None Brisbane City Hall, Sandgate Room, (Ann Street entrance), BRISBANE Aspley Full Aspley Special School Hall, 751 Zillmere Road, ASPLEY Aspley East Full Aspley East State School, Multi Purpose Activity Centre, Clorane Street, ASPLEY Bald Hills Full Bald Hills State School Hall, 2156 Gympie Road, BALD HILLS Bracken Ridge Full Bracken Ridge Uniting Church, 7 Pellinore Road, BRACKEN RIDGE Bracken Ridge East Full Bracken Ridge State School, Denham Street, BRACKEN RIDGE Bracken Ridge West Full Norris Road State School Hall, Pritchard Place, BRACKEN RIDGE Bridgeman Downs Assisted Church of the Resurrection Hall, 30 Ridley Road, BRIDGEMAN DOWNS Fitzgibbon Assisted Fitzgibbon Community Centre, 545 Roghan Road, FITZGIBBON Taigum Full Taigum State School Hall, 266 Handford
    [Show full text]
  • Redistribution of New South Wales Into Electoral Divisions FEBRUARY 2016
    Redistribution of New South Wales into electoral divisions FEBRUARY 2016 Report of the augmented Electoral Commission for New South Wales Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 Feedback and enquiries Feedback on this report is welcome and should be directed to the contact officer. Contact officer National Redistributions Manager Roll Management Branch Australian Electoral Commission 50 Marcus Clarke Street Canberra ACT 2600 Locked Bag 4007 Canberra ACT 2601 Telephone: 02 6271 4411 Fax: 02 6215 9999 Email: [email protected] AEC website www.aec.gov.au Accessible services Visit the AEC website for telephone interpreter services in 18 languages. Readers who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment can contact the AEC through the National Relay Service (NRS): – TTY users phone 133 677 and ask for 13 23 26 – Speak and Listen users phone 1300 555 727 and ask for 13 23 26 – Internet relay users connect to the NRS and ask for 13 23 26 ISBN: 978-1-921427-44-2 © Commonwealth of Australia 2016 © State of New South Wales 2016 The report should be cited as augmented Electoral Commission for New South Wales, Redistribution of New South Wales into electoral divisions. 15_0526 The augmented Electoral Commission for New South Wales (the augmented Electoral Commission) has undertaken a redistribution of New South Wales. In developing and considering the impacts of the redistribution, the augmented Electoral Commission has satisfied itself that the electoral divisions comply with the requirements of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (the Electoral Act). The augmented Electoral Commission commends its redistribution for New South Wales. This report is prepared to fulfil the requirements of section 74 of the Electoral Act.
    [Show full text]
  • Report of the Redistribution Committee
    The 2009 Proposed Redistribution of Queensland into Electoral Divisions Report of the Redistribution Committee Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 Section 68 Table of contents Executive Summary 1 Direction for a redistribution of Queensland electoral divisions 2 Quota 2 Enrolment projections 3 Appointment of the Redistribution Committee for Queensland 4 Invitations to submit public suggestions and comments 4 Statutory requirements for the making of a proposed redistribution 6 Technical procedures 8 Analysis of population trends 8 Enrolment in existing divisions as at 19 February 2009 9 Analysis of enrolment trends 10 Enrolment projections for existing divisions as at 9 July 2012 12 General strategy 15 Public suggestions and comments 17 Guidelines for the naming of divisions 19 Name of new division 19 Proposed redistribution of Queensland – by division: 20 Proposed South-East Queensland (South) divisions 22 Proposed South-East Queensland (North) divisions 27 Proposed Country divisions 30 Conclusion 34 Table 1 – Determination of the quota 2 Table 2 – Enrolment projections at 9 July 2012 3 Table 3 – Queensland regions for proposed redistribution 16 Table 4 – Summary of movement of electors between divisions 17 Table 5 – Themes 18 Table 6 – Divisions in order of discussion 21 Table 7 – Enrolment of existing divisions 35 Table 8 – Summary of proposed divisions 36 Table 9 – General description of how proposed divisions are constituted 37 Graph 1 – Queensland population quotas from 1997 to 2009 9 Graph 2 – Variation from the enrolment quota as at end 19 February 2009 for existing divisions 11 Graph 3 – Variation from projected average enrolment as at 9 July 2012 for existing divisions 13 Map Projected enrolment for existing divisions as at 9 July 2012 14 Enclosures Sheet 1 – Maps 1 and 2 Sheet 2 – Map 3 Sheet 3 – Map 4 CD – Containing the public suggestions received and comments received on those suggestions.
    [Show full text]
  • DIVISION FINDER 2019 Division Finder
    2019 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA 2019 DIVISION FINDER Division Finder Queensland QLD EF54 EF54 i © Commonwealth of Australia 2019 This work is copyright. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, scanning, recording or otherwise, without the written consent of the Australian Electoral Commission. All enquiries should be directed to the Australian Electoral Commission, Locked Bag 4007, Canberra ACT 2601. ii iii Contents Instructions For Use And Other Information Pages v-xiii INTRODUCTION Detailed instructions on how to use the various sections of the Division Finder. DIVISIONAL OFFICES A list of all divisional offices within the State showing physical and postal addresses, and telephone and facsimile numbers. INSTITUTIONS AND ESTABLISHMENTS A list of places of residence such as Universities, Hospitals, Defence Bases and Caravan Parks. This list may be of assistance in identifying institutions or establishments that cannot be found using the Locality and Street Sections. Locality Section Pages 1-43 This section lists all of the suburbs, towns and localities within the State of Queensland and the name of the corresponding electoral division the locality is contained in, or the reference ... See Street Section. Street Section Pages 47-135 This section lists all the streets for those localities in the Locality Section which have the reference ... See Street Section. Each street listing shows the electoral division the street is contained in. iv v Introduction The Division Finder is the official list used to Electors often do not know the correct identify the federal electoral division of the federal division in which they are enrolled, place an elector claims to be enrolled at.
    [Show full text]
  • Information for Candidates
    Tasmanian House of Assembly Election 1996 Information for Candidates Section 1 - Information Section 2 - Extracts from Relevant Legislation November 1995 Introduction Purpose of this booklet This information booklet is intended to assist intending candidates at the 1996 Tasmanian House of Assembly General Election. For ease of reading, some sections of the Electoral Act 1985 have been paraphrased. However, it is important to note that this booklet has no legal status and should not be substituted for the Act itself. As this is the first Candidate Information booklet produced for Tasmanian House of Assembly Elections, any comments or suggestions for improvement arc welcome. Unless otherwise specified section references in subject headings are from the Electoral Act 7 985. Role of the Tasmanian Electoral Office and Returning Officers Candidates should be aware that the role of the Tasmanian Electoral Office and Returning Officers is to administer the election in accordance with the Electoral Act 7985 While interpretation of the Act forms part of the daily function of Returning Officers, it is not their role to provide legal advice to candidates, groups or parties. It is in the best interests of candidates to obtain legal interpretations from their own legal advisers. “Section 2 - Extracts from relevant legislation A section containing legislation follows the information section. Please note that only some of the relevant extracts have been included and candidates should refer to the original Acts for further provisions. Useful tips: Shaded boxes throughout the booklet highlight practical advice for candidates. Purchasing the Electoral Act 7985 and the Constitution Act 1934 The Electoral Act 1985 and other relevant iegislation can be purchased from the Tasmanian Government Bookshop.
    [Show full text]
  • House of Assembly Wednesday 2 May 2018
    Wednesday 2 May 2018 The Speaker, Ms Hickey, took the Chair at 10 a.m., acknowledged the Traditional People, and read Prayers. QUESTIONS Royal Hobart Hospital - Emergency Department Issues Ms WHITE question to PREMIER, Mr HODGMAN [10.02 a.m.] Did you know that yesterday there were 63 patients stuck in the emergency department at the Royal Hobart Hospital, patients were being treated in three corridors, and there were 10 ambulances ramped? This is bad for patients and bad for stressed staff. If anything, it looks like this winter will be worse than last winter. Why was the hospital not escalated to level 4, as staff were asking for? Was there political pressure not to escalate due to the parliament resuming? ANSWER Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question but would cast a very healthy level of scepticism over any suggestions from her as to what this Government might do other than ensure we get on with the job of delivering on our record level of investment and commitments that will go to delivering the health service, which is improving under our Government and that we promised in the election. That is what we are focusing on. We recognise that there are pressures on the health system. That is why, with our budget back in balance, we have been able to commit a record amount over the last four years, $7 billion in the last budget and $750 million, to boost our efforts to improve the health system Tasmanians need. We will need to not only build the health system and the infrastructure to support it - Members interjecting.
    [Show full text]
  • Constitution Amendment (House of Assembly Electoral Boundaries) Bill 2009 Fact Sheet
    Constitution Amendment (House of Assembly Electoral Boundaries) Bill 2009 Fact Sheet The Commonwealth recently conducted a review of the House of Representatives boundaries in Tasmania, under the Commonwealth Electoral Act. The process is similar to that required under state legislation for the redistribution of Legislative Council boundaries. The redistribution has been completed and took effect on 16 February 2009. Under the determination, the division of Bass gains Hadspen from Lyons and the balance of the Launceston City municipal area from Lyons in the vicinity of Franklin Village and Relbia Road. The division of Denison gains part of the Kingborough municipal area generally north of Huon Highway and Browns Road from Franklin, including the localities of Neika, Firthside and Bonnet Hill. The division of Franklin cedes Bridgewater and Gagebrook to Lyons and part of the Kingborough municipal areas generally north of the Huon Highway and Browns Road to Denison, including the localities of Neika, Firthside and Bonnet Hill. It gains the balance of the Clarence City municipal area from Lyons, including Richmond. The division of Lyons cedes Hadspen to Bass and cedes the balance of the Launceston City municipal area to Bass in the vicinity of Franklin Village and Relbia Road. It cedes the West Coast municipal area to Braddon and gains the eastern portion of Latrobe municipal area contained in Western Tiers Legislative Council division (with minor exception) from Braddon. Lyons gains Bridgewater and Gagebrook from Franklin and cedes the balance of Clarence City municipal area including Richmond to Franklin. To avoid confusion in the minds of electors long accustomed to voting in the same division at State and Federal elections, it is both desirable and practical that our identical divisional boundaries continue.
    [Show full text]
  • Tas17-Fob0021 Australian Labor Party Tasmanian Branch
    Further objection number 21 ALP Tasmanian Branch 3 pages Tasmanian secretariat Phone (03) 6235 0503 Email [email protected] 26 July 2017 Redistribution Committee for Tasmania Australian Electoral Commission 2nd Floor, NAB Building 86 Collins Street HOBART TAS 7000 Dear Redistribution Committee of Tasmania, The Australian Labor Party, Tasmanian Branch is pleased to respond to the Redistribution Committee’s proposal for the redistribution of Tasmania into electoral divisions. The Australian Labor Party, Tasmanian branch expresses the view that the augmented Australian Electoral Commission decision to exclude from the division of Bass the urban component of Meander Valley Council should be rejected. The decision favours the community of interest arguments raised by Dorset municipality, but fails to recognise sufficiently, if at all, the deep connections at all levels between the urban parts of Meander Valley Council and the remainder of Launceston city. Meander Valley Council consists of an urban portion and a substantial rural component. The urban component is universally considered as indistinguishable from Greater Launceston. There is no obvious boundary between Launceston City Council and Meander Valley Council other than the features chosen to provide the boundary for municipal purposes. In larger metropolitan cities on the mainland such suburban distinctions on lines of community identity are considerably easier to identify. The Australian Labor Party, Tasmanian branch is strongly of the view that the local government boundary between Launceston and Meander Valley should not be utilised for the purposes of the redistribution, due to the fact that the community of interest overwhelmingly favours the retention of the urban parts of Meander Valley Council with the balance of Greater Launceston.
    [Show full text]
  • NOTICE PAPER No
    4581 1998-1999-2000 THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NOTICE PAPER No. 88 TUESDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2000 The House meets this day at 2 p.m. GOVERNMENT BUSINESS Orders of the day 1 CRIMINAL CODE AMENDMENT (APPLICATION) BILL 1999 (Attorney- General): Second reading—Resumption of debate (from 24 November 1999—Mr Horne). *2 MINISTERS OF STATE AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 1999 (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration): Second reading—Resumption of debate (from 9 December 1999— Mr M. J. Evans). 3 APPROPRIATION BILL (NO. 3) 1999-2000 (Minister for Finance and Administration): Second reading—Resumption of debate (from 8 December 1999—Mr O’Connor). 4 APPROPRIATION BILL (NO. 4) 1999-2000 (Minister for Finance and Administration): Second reading—Resumption of debate (from 8 December 1999—Mr O’Connor). *5 HEALTH LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL (NO. 4) 1999 (Minister for Health and Aged Care): Second reading—Resumption of debate (from 9 December 1999—Mr Melham). *6 HEALTH INSURANCE (APPROVED PATHOLOGY SPECIMEN COLLECTION CENTRES) TAX BILL 1999 (Minister for Health and Aged Care): Second reading—Resumption of debate (from 9 December 1999—Mr Melham). 7 CLASSIFICATION (PUBLICATIONS, FILMS AND COMPUTER GAMES) AMENDMENT BILL (NO. 2) 1999 (Attorney-General): Second reading— Resumption of debate (from 8 December 1999—Mr O’Connor). *8 NEW BUSINESS TAX SYSTEM (MISCELLANEOUS) BILL 1999 (Treasurer): Second reading—Resumption of debate (from 9 December 1999— Mr M. J. Evans). * Notifications to which an asterisk (*) is prefixed appear for the first time † Debate to be adjourned to a future day at the conclusion of the time allotted.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter Five
    5 2WKHULVVXHV Funding and disclosure Funding entitlements 5.1 Part XX of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (Electoral Act) provides for public funding of election campaigns to be made available to candidates and political parties who receive at least four per cent of the formal first preference vote. This funding ensures candidates are not disadvantaged in their appeal to electors or unduly influenced in their subsequent actions by lack of access to adequate funding. 5.2 Mr and Mrs Whitton, Mr Arthur Tuck and Mr Goldstiver call for the elimination of public funding to political parties for election campaigns.1 G W Spence and Mr Lockett suggest a restriction be placed on the amount that can be spent on election campaigns to reduce the amount of public funding necessary.2 5.3 The public funding entitlements for the 1998 federal election, including the Newcastle supplementary election, totalled $33,920,787.43. The funding rate was 162.210 cents per vote3 and this has been paid to party agents and independent candidates as shown in Table 5.1. 1 Submissions pp S592 (H&M.Whitton), S667 (M.Goldstiver) and S1844 (A.Tuck) 2 Submissions pp S214 (GW.Spence) and S632-S633 (E.Lockett) 3 Australian Electoral Commission. 1999. Electoral Pocket Book, Canberra, AEC, p 57. 124 Table 5.1 1998 election funding payments Payee Amount - $ Australian Labor Party 13,959,511.97 Liberal Party of Australia 11,488,881.15 National Party of Australia 2,321,589.02 Northern Territory Country Liberal Party 116,916.10 Australian Democrats 2,247,677.46 Australian Greens
    [Show full text]
  • Australia's Political System
    Volume | 373 Justin Healey Edited by Political System Political Australia’s Australia’s VOLUME PB AUSTRALIA’S POLITICAL SYSTEM ISSUES IN SOCIETY Volume | Volume Australia’s 373 Political System Edited by Justin Healey This e-book is subject to the terms and conditions of a non-exclusive and non-transferable SITE LICENCE AGREEMENT between THE SPINNEY PRESS and: St Peter's Collegiate Girls School, Stonyfell, [email protected] First published by PO Box 438 Thirroul NSW 2515 Australia www.spinneypress.com.au © The Spinney Press 2014. COPYRIGHT All rights reserved. Other than for purposes of and subject to the conditions prescribed under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 and subsequent amendments, no part of this publication may in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, microcopying, photocopying, recording or otherwise) be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted without prior permission. Inquiries should be directed to the publisher. REPRODUCTION AND COMMUNICATION FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES The Australian Copyright Act 1968 (the Act) allows a maximum of one chapter or 10% of the pages of this work, whichever is the greater, to be reproduced and/or communicated by any educational institution for its educational purposes provided that the educational institution (or the body that administers it) has given a remuneration notice to Copyright Agency Limited (CAL) under the Act. For details of the CAL licence for educational institutions contact: Copyright Agency Limited, Level 15, 233 Castlereagh Street Sydney NSW 2000 Telephone: (02) 9394 7600 Fax: (02) 9394 7601 Email: [email protected] REPRODUCTION AND COMMUNICATION FOR OTHER PURPOSES Except as permitted under the Act (for example a fair dealing for the purposes of study, research, criticism or review) no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, communicated or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission.
    [Show full text]