Electoral Amendment Bill - Amendment paper No 480
Electoral Amendment Bill - Amendment paper No 480
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Electoral Amendment Bill - Amendment paper No 480
No 480
House of Representatives
Amendment Paper
Electoral Amendment Bill
Proposed amendment
Celia Wade-Brown, in Committee, to move the following amendment:
Clause 44
In clause 44(1), new section 217(2)(a)(i), delete “vote or ”
(page 31, line 1).
Explanatory note
This Amendment Paper amends the Electoral Amendment Bill. The Independent Electoral Review recommended repealing treating offences. The Electoral Commission at that point raised that the offence was confusing and unclear. In particular, the Independent Electoral Review identified that it is difficult to prove a corrupt intent. Providing voters with food, drink, or entertainment without a corrupt intent is legal, which adds confusion to what is and is not allowed. This Amendment Paper narrows the treating offence to exclude the provision of food and drink to encourage someone to vote on a non-partisan basis (but not to vote for a particular candidate or party). It is non-controversial that more people voting is positive for our democracy. In Australia, the democracy sausage offered to voters outside polling places after voting is widely celebrated. This Amendment Paper would reduce some confusion about ‘treating’ offences, and allow non-partisan voter-turnout campaigns to provide food and drink without risking non-compliance with a confusing law.
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Electoral Amendment Bill - Amendment paper No 480
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