House debates

Thursday, 24 June 2010

Electoral and Referendum Amendment (How-to-Vote Cards and Other Measures) Bill 2010

Consideration of Senate Message

Bill returned from the Senate with amendments.

Ordered that the amendments be considered immediately.

Senate’s amendments—

(1)    Schedule 1, item 1, page 3 (lines 15 to 21), omit paragraphs (b) and (c) of the definition of how-to-vote card, substitute:

             (b)    that lists the names of 2 or more of the candidates or registered political parties in an election, with a number indicating the order of voting preference in conjunction with the names of 2 or more of the candidates or parties; or

             (c)    that otherwise directs or encourages the casting of votes in an election in a particular way, other than a card, handbill or pamphlet:

                   (i)    that only relates to first preference votes; or

                  (ii)    that only relates to last preference votes.

(2)    Schedule 1, item 6, page 4 (line 6), after “top”, insert “or bottom”.

(3)    Schedule 1, item 6, page 5 (line 13), omit “10 penalty units”, substitute “50 penalty units”.

(4)    Schedule 1, item 6, page 5 (line 30), omit “10 penalty units”, substitute “50 penalty units”.

(5)    Schedule 1, item 7, page 6 (line 2), after “top”, insert “, bottom”.

4:41 pm

Photo of Gary GrayGary Gray (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Western and Northern Australia) Share this | | Hansard source

I move:

That the amendments be agreed to.

The government has introduced the Electoral and Referendum Amendment (How-to-Vote Cards and Other Measures) Bill 2010 to improve authorisation requirements so that electors know on whose behalf a how-to-vote card is being distributed. The government thanks the Senate for passing this bill with amendments. The government accepts these amendments, including government amendments to refine the definition of how-to-vote cards to ensure that it captures only those materials which express two or more preferences and does not unintentionally include material which simply encourages an elector to simply vote 1 candidate Y or vote 1 party X and opposition amendments to increase the penalties for breaches of offences in the bill to 50 penalty units. I commend the bill to the House.

Question agreed to.