Electoral Commission of South Australia, $6,195,000

Administered Items for Electoral Commission of South Australia, $583,000

Membership:

Ms Andrews substituted for Mrs Pearce.

Minister:

Hon. K.J. Maher, Attorney-General, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector.

Departmental Advisers:

Mr M. Sherry, Electoral Commissioner.

Mr W. Harlock, Acting Deputy Electoral Commissioner.

Mr I. Clayfield, Chief Financial Officer, Electoral Commission of South Australia.

The CHAIR: We now come to the portfolio for the Electoral Commission of SA, and the minister appearing is the Attorney-General. Minister, would you like to introduce your advisers and make an opening statement, if you wish to do so.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I am very happy to introduce my advisers. On my right—and known, I am sure, to nearly everyone who is involved in parliament and politics—is Mick Sherry, the Electoral Commissioner. On my left is Wayne Harlock, the Acting Deputy Electoral Commissioner, and behind me is Mr Ian Clayfield, the chief financial officer. I am very pleased to say that sitting in the gallery we still have Andrew Swanson in his 24^th year of estimates.

The CHAIR: Does the lead opposition speaker wish to make any statement?

Mr TEAGUE: Just two things, Chair, if I may, and thank you for the opportunity. Firstly, I indicate that the committee might excuse me, as I will need to go next door in about five minutes and I will be pleased to hand over my colleague Mr Tarzia to continue.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: We will miss you. Will you return this afternoon, though?

Mr TEAGUE: Thank you, minister.

The CHAIR: What is so important next door?

Mr TEAGUE: An excellent point, Chair. I can only ask your indulgence for my participation next door; otherwise, it is a point very well made.

The CHAIR: That is actually the B committee; this is the A committee.

Mr TEAGUE: Noted, Chair. The second point I want to note is my appreciation of the service to the Electoral Commission of South Australia by David Gully over an extended period of time. I indicate that and wish him very well for the future. Otherwise, it is questions, Chair, if I may. I hope I have not jumped the gun in that respect?

Mr SHERRY: No, it is all public.

Mr TEAGUE: Good. If I may—questions, Chair?

The CHAIR: Of course. We are waiting.

Mr TEAGUE: We have recently—

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Do you have a budget line you are referencing?

Mr TEAGUE: Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 48, might be a convenient starting point.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: That is a blank page. I can talk about the number 48 at the bottom of the page in reference to a question.

Mr TEAGUE: We are not going to go there for the moment, much as it might be appropriate.

The CHAIR: What is the reference you are going to give us?

Mr TEAGUE: We could go to page 8 as well, but I am very conscious that it might be more appropriate that the minister considers actually to start with the blank page, but we will not do that. We will to go to page 9.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Of Budget Paper 4, Volume 2?

Mr TEAGUE: Yes, that is the Electoral Commission of South Australia, which is where we are.

The CHAIR: Did you say page 9?

Mr TEAGUE: Page 9, yes.

The CHAIR: That is a blank page.

Mr TEAGUE: No, it is not.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: It has a title.

The CHAIR: Apart from asking the Attorney-General his name perhaps, what else can you ask him?

Mr TEAGUE: I am directing the Attorney to the commencement of the agency provision. That is it there, and we progress from there.

The CHAIR: So whereabouts are you going to ask questions from?

Mr TEAGUE: I will start at page 12. Just earlier this year, we had a—

The CHAIR: Whereabouts on page 12?

Mr TEAGUE: On page 12, at about point 6 on the page, where we see a table headed 'Workforce summary'.

The CHAIR: Thank you. Proceed.

Mr TEAGUE: While we are at it, on page 13 we see a table, headed 'Program net cost of services summary', and a program called Electoral Services. There is a budget associated with that for 2021-22 and an estimated result for 2021-22, and then there is a budget for 2022-23. I will be addressing that line item in particular towards the top of page 13 in due course.

Just earlier this year, we had a state election, which has obviously been cause for the budget for the Electoral Services Commission to be significant for 2021-22. I note the variance from the 2021-22 budget to the estimated result. Will the minister provide any information that might have led to that variance and otherwise indicate, more particularly, the cost of the March 2022 state election?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I am happy to talk about the cost of services, particularly in an election year. Regarding the budgeted operating costs of the state election over four years—I think that is what the member is getting to, the cost of an election, and of course the cost an election is not borne in just the year of the election; there are costs before that—I am advised that the budgeted operating cost for the election over the four years 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 was a total of $23 million, excluding the subsequent impacts of COVID.

In addition, I am informed there was a budgeted investing expenditure for the 2022 state election of approximately $3 million, mainly for equipment for electronic roll marking off and software development. I am informed that the development of that budget was based on the costs of the 2018 state election plus a provision for inflation and changes in volumes over four years, plus known changes in activities and infrastructure required for the conduct of the election in 2022.

My advice is that in 2020-21 additional funding of $1.8 million was provided from the COVID-19 Support Fund for measures required to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on the conduct of the election. I am advised that expenditure had been required to combat the impacts of COVID, including having to replace staff who were no longer available to participate, printing extra postal voting materials, purchasing rapid antigen test kits to protect the temporary election workforce, and implementing a workforce that allowed electors impacted by COVID-19 the opportunity to collect ballot papers prior to the close of voting from COVID-19 testing and collection sites.

I am informed that election staff worked additional hours on polling day to cope with the unusually long queues, managing social distancing and keeping staff and electors safe throughout the day.

Mr TARZIA: I might move to the omnibus questions for the committee and then resume the other questions:

1. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, what is the total cost of machinery of government changes incurred between 22 March 2022 and 30 June 2022?

2. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, which administrative units were created, abolished or transferred to another department or agency between 22 March 2022 and 30 June 2022 and what was the cost or saving in each case?

3. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, how many executive appointments have been made since 22 March 2022 and what is the annual salary and total employment cost for each position?

4. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, how many executive positions have been abolished since 22 March 2022 and what was the annual salary and total employment cost for each position?

5. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, what has been the total cost of executive position terminations since 22 March 2022?

6. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, will the minister provide a breakdown of expenditure on consultants and contractors with a total estimated cost above $10,000 engaged between 22 March 2022 and 30 June 2022, listing the name of the consultant, contractor or service supplier, the method of appointment, the reason for the engagement and the estimated total cost of the work?

7. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, will the minister provide an estimate of the total cost to be incurred in 2022-23 for consultants and contractors, and for each case in which a consultant or contractor has already been engaged at a total estimated cost above $10,000, the name of the consultant or contractor, the method of appointment, the reason for the engagement and the total estimated cost?

8. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, will the minister advise whether it will be subject to the 1.7 per cent efficiency dividend for 2022-23 to which the government has committed and, if so, the budgeted dollar amount to be contributed in each case and how the saving will be achieved?

9. For each department or agency reporting to the minister, how many surplus employees were there at 30 June 2022, and for each surplus employee, what is the title or classification of the position and the total annual employment cost?

10. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, what is the number of executive staff to be cut to meet the government's commitment to reduce spending on the employment of executive staff by $41.5 million over four years and, for each position to be cut, its classification, total remuneration cost and the date by which the position will be cut?

11. For each department and agency reporting to the minister:

What savings targets have been set for 2022-23 and each year of the forward estimates;

What is the estimated FTE impact of these measures?

12. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, will the minister advise what share it will receive of the $1.5 billion the government proposes to use over four years of uncommitted capital reserves held in the budget at the time it took office and the purpose for which this funding will be used in each case?

13. For each department and agency reporting to the minister:

What was the actual FTE count at 30 June 2022 and what is the projected actual FTE count for the end of each year of the forward estimates;

What is the budgeted total employment cost for each year of the forward estimates; and

How many targeted voluntary separation packages are estimated to be required to meet budget targets over the forward estimates and what is their estimated cost?

14. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, how much is budgeted to be spent on goods and services for 2022-23 and for each year of the forward estimates?

15. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, how many FTEs are budgeted to provide communication and promotion activities in 2022-23 and each year of the forward estimates and what is their estimated employment cost?

16. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, what is the total budgeted cost of government-paid advertising, including campaigns, across all mediums in 2022-23?

17. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, please provide for each individual investing expenditure project administered, the name, total estimated expenditure, actual expenditure incurred to 30 June 2022 and budgeted expenditure for 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26.

18. For each grant program or fund the minister is responsible for, please provide the following information for the 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 financial years:

Name of the program or fund;

The purpose of the program or fund;

Budgeted payments into the program or fund;

Budgeted expenditure from the program or fund; and

Details, including the value and beneficiary, or any commitments already made to be funded from the program or fund.

Moving on to Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 12, it talks about stated objectives and responsibilities, and you have the workplace summary there.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: The table at the bottom of the page is what you are referring to?

Mr TARZIA: Yes. Clearly, the objective of the Electoral Commission of SA is:

To provide services which enable the fair and independent election of government and governing bodies which helps and encourages the community to participate with confidence and trust in the democratic processes…

And that is very important. A recent news article on 18 March confirms that the commissioner found that the Labor Party election advertising at the time about ambulance ramping in the recent state election campaign was inaccurate and misleading. There was an order that the Labor Party remove the ramping commercial and, wherever the statement was distributed, it was ordered to publish corrections saying that the claim was not true. Did the Labor Party follow the commissioner's directions and remove the ads?

The CHAIR: Before the minister responds, can I clarify which dot point you are using?

Mr TARZIA: I am talking about the objectives under Electoral Commission. I am talking about—

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: The vibe.

Mr TARZIA: —people who are employed by the Electoral Commission and certain people who were involved in these findings, and there was an order by the commission. I am asking whether the Labor Party followed the commissioner's directions and removed the ad?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: As Attorney-General and having responsibility for the Electoral Act, that is not a question that comes under my purview. I might suggest that the member write to the Labor Party. I am happy to provide the member with an address. I think it is 141 Gilles Street, Adelaide.

Mr TARZIA: You have been there before.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I have been there a couple of times before, which I think is the address of the ALP head office. I am sure correspondence to the Labor Party from the member for Hartley would be warmly received.

Mr TARZIA: Excellent.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: If the Labor Party choose to do so, they can provide a response to the member's question.

Mr TARZIA: We will move on to Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 17, in relation to various elections. Council elections are obviously coming up and the commission does an exceptional job in administering those elections. Do you have a cost of what the November council elections are expected to be?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I can find a bit of information generally about council elections. As the member has pointed out, the council elections are conducted by the South Australian Electoral Commission. I am advised that planning for the 2022 periodic council elections is well underway. There are changes and innovations implemented that are in progress to date that include a periodic election program management being implemented, using the same project management system and governance framework as for the state election.

Software developments for the local council elections are being progressed, including the development of an online portal for candidate nominations, including profiles, photos and lodgement of candidate returns. There are improvements to the local government election management system to support the candidate nomination portal and development of an election results platform on display.

However, the main challenge relating to the 2022 periodic elections is still conducting the statewide activity in the same calendar year as state parliamentary elections. In the past, parliament has decided that state elections will be in March of a particular year and that later in that same year, in November, pursuant to statute, council elections will occur. Furthermore, I am informed this challenge is expected to be amplified in this particular year as a federal election has also been held. One of the concerns foreshadowed is the possibility that voter fatigue may adversely impact on the participation rates in the voluntary local government elections.

The member specifically asked about a provision in the budget for the cost of local council elections. My advice is that local council elections are essentially on a fee-for-service basis conducted by the South Australian Electoral Commission, so there is not a budget laid out in the budget papers for local council elections. The South Australian Electoral Commission effectively invoices local councils for the conduct of an election and then is paid for the conduct of that election.

Mr TARZIA: Do you have a ballpark figure, a range?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: My advice is that in 2018, for the November local council elections, the cost was approximately $6.57 million. There is a rough estimate and we do not know yet what the exact cost will be, but it might be in the order of $9 million for this election. I am informed there are 67 local councils and, judging from the last election, somewhere in the order of 1,500 individual candidates, 700 possible positions to be elected and over 200 individual elections, when you take into account wards and other things. It is a pretty big undertaking. As I have said, the cost was estimated at about $6½ million in 2018 with an estimate of somewhere in the order of $9 million for 2022.

Mr TARZIA: Moving on to page 15, parliamentary electoral services, expenses and associated reports. It is always followed closely in this chamber, and I know members love reading it, so when is the Electoral Commissioner's report on the 2022 state election due to be published?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I will get you some information on that. As the member points out, the report of each state election is eagerly awaited and anticipated by many in the South Australian community, not least the members of parliament.

Mr TARZIA: And former members too.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: A thorough operational review and evaluation of the conduct of the 2022 state election will help provide that guidance for future major electoral events, particularly state elections.

It is important to complete the review evaluation and the election report thoroughly, and as soon as it is practicable, to provide parliament sufficient time to review any potential recommendations and to give the Electoral Commission time to implement any outcomes. I am advised that the Electoral Commission is targeting completion of the operational review and evaluation of the state election in 2022, and the aim is to publish the formal state election report by the first quarter of 2023.

As I said, that will allow time for analysis and implementation of any operational changes and the possibility of completion of legislative change for any recommendations that flow out of that. As members are aware, legislative changes to the way elections work are not always done quickly and easily, so allowing sufficient time for those will be an important matter. I am also informed that a report on the Bragg by-election, which is due soon, will be prepared for inclusion in the state election report.

Mr TARZIA: I have a supplementary question arising out of those comments. In relation to the recommendations, can the minister confirm that he and his government will enact all recommendations in the Electoral Commission state election report, including around telephone-assisted voting?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I am sure the minister would not reasonably expect any government to commit to something they have not seen, but I can inform the member that the government will properly consider all recommendations from the report.

Mr TARZIA: Excellent. I will move on to page 14, electoral services. Obviously, there is always a challenge to do more to increase youth voter participation. I am interested in what the commission will do to increase youth voter participation.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: In the last election, a number of initiatives were undertaken by the Electoral Commission to make sure that all those eligible to participate in democratic processes did participate, and of course young people are a key element of that. I am informed that the Electoral Commissioner wrote to young people who had just come onto the roll before the election to remind them about the need to vote and the alternatives—if they are having trouble on polling day, what is available.

I am also informed that there was interaction with community groups that younger people may be involved in. Importantly, I have teenage boys at home, so probably the one that seems to be the most effective for them is interaction with the Electoral Commission on social media, paid advertising on social media to reach young people and activity on social media to outline the importance of voting, what is involved and how one can engage.

Mr TARZIA: I have one last question, Mr Chair. I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 2, page 16, performance indicators. There is comment on research activities. Is the Attorney able to provide some explanation of the five anticipated research activities into electoral matters that are identified in the performance indicators 2022-23. What are they?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I am advised that the five research activities that are proposed for the next financial year include:

research publication series;

trends and issues;

briefing papers and electoral backgrounds;

internal Electoral Commission South Australia research to support operational improvements;

major research projects, as set out in the Electoral Commissioner's research framework;

participate in externally initiated research seminars and workshops undertaken by external organisations, such as the Electoral Research and Regulation Network; and

the conduct of things such as by-election surveys—conducting surveys of elected staff and stakeholders.

The CHAIR: The allotted time having expired, I declare the examination of the proposed payments for the Electoral Commission of South Australia and the Administered Items for the Electoral Commission of South Australia complete. I thank the minister, I thank his advisers and I thank members of the committee. We will reconvene at 11.45am.

Sitting suspended from 11:31 to 11:45.