Mike Kelly (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the amendments be agreed to.

The Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Modernisation and Other Measures) Bill 2010 has returned. The government supports this bill, as it will improve the integrity of the Commonwealth Electoral Act and allow increased electoral participation by ordinary Australians. The government thanks the Senate for its consideration of this bill and agrees with the amendments made by the Senate. These amendments will remove the requirement that postal vote applications be returned directly to the Australian Electoral Commission and removes the prohibition on material being attached to postal vote applications. The government accepts these amendments in order that the remaining provisions of the bill be accepted and implemented before this year’s election.

I commend the bill to the House.

Bruce Billson (Dunkley, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Small Business, Deregulation, Competition Policy and Sustainable Cities) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of the coalition, I would like to acknowledge the government’s support for these important amendments put forward by the coalition. The Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Modernisation and Other Measures) Bill 2010 and the coalition’s amendments go to enhancing the integrity of the electoral roll and participation. We welcome the fact that the government has recognised that practical experience of late has fed into these amendments. We support the bill as amended.

Question agreed to.

The President:

The proceedings are suspended until the ringing of the bells, which I am informed is likely to be 8 pm this evening.