Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters
Inquiry into the role of the Australian Electoral Commission in conducting
industrial elections
The Committee tabled its report Industrial elections: Report of the
inquiry into the role of the Australian Electoral Commission in conducting
industrial elections in both houses of Parliament on 20 October 1997.
A copy of the report is available in PDF format
(324KB) or from the Committee Secretariat.
(To view or print the PDF document, you will require the Acrobat PDF
Reader, which can be downloaded free of charge from Adobe.)
Government response to the Committee's
report was tabled on 15 July 1998.
Contents of report: Industrial elections
Foreword
Terms of Reference
Membership of the Committee
Abbreviations
Chapter Summary and List of Recommendations
Chapter One - Introduction
Current Legislative Framework
An Historical Perspective
The Inquiry
Chapter Two - Standardisation of Rules
A Single Set of Standard Rules for all Industrial Elections?
Standardised Declaration Envelopes
Voters' Rolls
Attendance/Presentation Ballots versus Postal Ballots
Model Rules
Problem Rules
Chapter Three - Mechanisms for Review
Institutional Arrangements
Should the AEC Have Standing to Initiate an Inquiry?
Whether the Right to Apply for an Inquiry Should be Restricted in the
Public Interest
The Time Limit for Commencing Prosecutions for Electoral Offences
Interim Officers Pending the Outcome of Fresh Elections
Chapter Four - Cost and Capacity
The Cost of Conducting Industrial Elections, Including the Impact on the
Resourcing of the AEC
The Capacity of the AEC to Provide Assistance to Organisations on a Fee-For-Service
Basis
Chapter Five - Other Matters
Verifying the Voters' Roll
Power of Returning Officers Under Section 215(1)
Notification of Elections Due
Post-Election Reports
Electioneering Material
Appendix 1 - Resolution of Appointment
Appendix 2 - List of Submissions
Appendix 3 - List of Exhibits
Appendix 4 - List of Hearings and Witnesses