Bill
Electoral Legislation Amendment (Contingency Measures) Bill 2021
passed, as at 2021-12-13. Special Minister of State portfolio.
- Sponsor
- Not recorded
- Portfolio
- Special Minister of State
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2021-10-28
- second reading — 2021-10-28
- second reading — 2021-12-01
- second reading — 2021-12-01
- committee — 2021-12-01
- third reading — 2021-12-01
- introduced — 2021-12-02
- second reading — 2021-12-02
- second reading — 2021-12-02
- second reading — 2021-12-02
- third reading — 2021-12-02
- passed — 2021-12-02
- royal assent — 2021-12-13
Divisions
No divisions recorded. Most questions are decided on the voices; this does not establish that a bill was unopposed.
Plain-language summary
Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2021-10-28.
The bill would let the Electoral Commissioner change how elections are run when a federal emergency law is in force.
The commissioner could alter limited parts of the Electoral Act through a legislative instrument, after notifying the prime minister and opposition leader and publishing the changes online.
The power to suspend or adjourn polling would move from local presiding officers to the commissioner and could not be delegated, and the start of scrutiny in a division would be delayed if polling was suspended there.
- Gives the Electoral Commissioner power to modify election conduct during a Commonwealth emergency.
- Transfers the power to adjourn or suspend polling from presiding officers to the Electoral Commissioner.
- Delays the start of House of Representatives scrutiny when polling is suspended in that division.
- Prevents public disclosure of Senate results in a division until polls close after a suspension.
- Allows the Australian Electoral Commission flexibility in the format of postal vote certificates.
- Implements recommendations from a parliamentary committee report on elections during emergencies.
The Australian Electoral Commission, the Electoral Commissioner, the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, voters, and polling place presiding officers.
Sources
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