John Cobb (Calare, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would to take the opportunity to raise my concern over the proposed closure of polling booths, particularly those in the Calare electorate. I was recently contacted by the Australian Electoral Commission and advised that 13 booths around my electorate are looking like being closed for next year's election. Booths set to come under the knife in my electorate include Peel, Sofala, Vale of Clwydd, Trunkey, Littleton, Mitchell Campus, Neville, Oakey Park, Parkes Hospital, Alectown, Burraga, Capertee and Hampton. I am dismayed at the changes being proposed. I consider myself a supporter of change and I am able to look at sensible rationalisation, but in this circumstance it is going too far.

The Australian Electoral Commission say the abolition of some polling places is due to an anticipated increase of pre-polling at the next election. That may well be true, but to suggest pre-polling as an excuse to close booths can be insulting. Sofala in my electorate does not suddenly find itself next door to one of the very few polling booths in Calare. I do not believe this rationalisation is good enough. I do not see that the constituents of Calare should be made to travel long distances to exercise their democratic right and their obligation to vote. I am sceptical about the data being used to back the move, as Trunkey Creek has not shown a drop in numbers over the 2010 and the 2013 elections.