Tony Smith (Casey, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask leave of the House to make a statement on behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on electoral matters updating the House on two new inquiries the committee will be launching, relating to electoral education and campaigning at polling places.

Leave granted.

I would like to update the House on the current work of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters.

As members would be aware, the committee has tabled reports into Senate voting practices, electronic voting options and, on budget day, the final report into the 2013 federal election.

I inform the House that the committee has recently adopted terms of reference for two new inquiries, one on the delivery of electoral education, and the other on campaigning activities and conduct at polling places. I am pleased to formally launch both today.

The launch of the electoral education inquiry ties in with the anniversaries of two historic and significant events that have shaped the Western world—the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta and 750 years since the first Westminster parliament.

The democratic principles of Magna Carta and the democratic architecture of Westminster developed, advanced and evolved over centuries, and took root here in the colonies.

Such was the democratic transformation that the manner of the birth of the Australian nation in 1901 was unique, for it was created not by a war or revolution, but by a vote of the people.

As a young democracy, we were therefore ideally placed to then lead the world in so many democratic advances.

We took the best of both the British and American systems.

We adopted the accountability of the British Westminster system of parliamentary democracy, but with the class-free features of the Americans.

We established a House of Representatives instead of a House of Commons, and an elected Senate rather than an appointed House of Lords. Madam Speaker, you will not mind me revealing your keen interest in this topic and your wonderful descriptor of 'Ausminster' that I have heard you use on many occasions with school groups.

We led both these democracies by decades in giving women the right to vote, when the first federal parliament passed its first electoral law in 1902.

Our right to vote, how our parliament was created, its purpose and its operation have been the vital foundations for the success of our nation.

The freedoms that flow from our democracy have been pivotal in providing generations of individuals with the opportunities that have built both their and, in turn, our nation's success.

Every voter is a citizen shareholder in our nation, determining the direction of the nation through the ballot box at regular elections. Knowing our history is critical to understanding why parliament and politics matters, and how every citizen has a stake in the future.

Maintaining the strength and vibrancy of our democracy in the years ahead requires an investment in Australia's young citizens, who are its future custodians.

Teachers play a critical part in shaping young people's understanding of their role as citizens and future electors. Their work helps guide the democratic development of our nation.

The committee will conduct its investigations focusing on the following terms of reference:

The focus of the electoral education inquiry will include:

Our second inquiry follows a reference from the Special Minister of State, Senator Ronaldson, in relation to campaigning activities at polling places.

The committee will inquire into and report on the current rules and practices in relation to campaign activities in the vicinity of polling places, with particular reference to:

There have been allegations aired in the media of bullying and intimidation of candidates and voters at polling places, and misleading conduct designed to deceive voters and distort their electoral will. The committee will consider these issues, as well as the rules and regulations around conduct at polling places.