Bills

Electoral (Telephone Voting) Amendment Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 28 September 2022.)

Mr TELFER (Flinders) (10:32): I rise to speak in support of this motion and really highlight the important nature of what this is trying to achieve. The opportunity for everyone to be involved in our democratic process is a very important one. I was really encouraged to see the Electoral Commissioner put in place the opportunity for people wanting to vote at local government elections but not being able to have access to their voting packs because they are interstate or overseas or for those who are physically incapacitated, whether they are blind or visually impaired, to be able to have the opportunity to vote via telephone in very important local government elections.

As I said, the democratic process is really important, and for us as decision-makers we should always be considering what we can do to enable a greater involvement within our democratic process. The instigation of telephone voting in local government elections for these elections that are currently running I believe will be a good opportunity for us to prove that this model is one that is effective and able to be utilised in other levels of government election.

The importance of the opportunity for people to have their say should never be underestimated. I have been really encouraged by the positive nature with which the community has been looking at engaging with this telephone voting process and the opportunity for people who might not be able to have readily available access.

Throughout our previous state, local and federal government election processes there has been communicated to me a frustration with the opportunity for people who are not necessarily within the jurisdiction at the time of voting to have their say as well, and no more so especially than with people who are interstate or overseas. We have a very dynamic travelling population these days, and people are often in different places all around our beautiful country and around the world, and this provision really does put in place the opportunity for them to have their say.

The process that has been put forward by the Electoral Commissioner of South Australia for local government elections is proof of process, to be able to show that this can be done not just at local government level but at state election level as well. That is why I am standing here in support, as someone who has had a history of leadership within local government and obviously here within this place, to make sure every opportunity is given for people to have their democratic say within the processes, and I fully support the bill.

The SPEAKER: Member for Heysen. He is closing the debate.

Mr ODENWALDER (Elizabeth) (10:31): I move:

That the debate be adjourned.

The SPEAKER: It has been moved; is it seconded? I put the question: those of the opinion say aye, against no—the ayes have it. Adjourned debate to be taken into consideration?

Mrs Hurn: Divide!

The SPEAKER: Well, I have already put the motion.

Mr Teague: You already gave me the call as well.

The SPEAKER: That may be, but the Leader of Opposition Business then appealed to me, so if the opposition—

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Sir, for clarity I was reminding the Speaker of the convention that, if somebody would close debate, the house's attention is usually drawn to that fact, and then other members who want to make a contribution or move a motion by convention are given that opportunity. That was the call I was making. I was not appealing for that to happen, but I was just reminding the Speaker of that convention.

The SPEAKER: Very well, I am in your hands.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: So I vote no to the opportunity to adjourn debate.

The SPEAKER: Very well, division called. Ring the bells.

The house divided on the motion:

Ayes 20

Noes 13

Majority 7

AYES

NOES

PAIRS

Motion thus carried; debate adjourned.