House of Assembly Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1) 55 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Local Government Elections Local Government Elections Mr TELFER House of Assembly Flinders Local Government Elections Mr TELFER (Flinders) (14:48): My question— Mr Whetstone House of Assembly Chaffey Mr Whetstone: Get your little minions to do all your speaking. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The member for Chaffey is on three warnings. Mr TELFER House of Assembly Flinders Mr TELFER: My question is to Minister for Local Government. What action is the minister taking to ensure that voters can trust the process and results of local government elections? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain. Leave granted. Mr TELFER House of Assembly Flinders Mr TELFER: Reports over recent days have identified irregular enrolments at the West Torrens council election and an alleged voter scam in the Adelaide City Council election. The Hon. G.G. BROCK House of Assembly Stuart Minister for Local Government Minister for Regional Roads Minister for Veterans Affairs The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Stuart—Minister for Local Government, Minister for Regional Roads, Minister for Veterans Affairs) (14:49): I thank the member for his question. I have reiterated a couple of times now and took questions previously regarding who is operating the local government elections this year. It was the previous government that put the proposal through that the Electoral Commissioner will handle all the elections, including the ballot papers going out and the ballot papers going back to the Electoral Commissioner. We are in the middle of a local government election process at the moment. The Electoral Commission is responsible for the conduct of the elections and will ensure their integrity, and I have the fullest respect and trust in the Electoral Commissioner. Once the election process has been concluded and the results declared by the commissioner there will be a review and an analysis undertaken to identify whether changes are appropriate or necessary. The government is not in the business of commenting on allegations, and I urge anyone to come forward with any complaint regarding the election process. Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. G.G. BROCK House of Assembly Stuart Minister for Local Government Minister for Regional Roads Minister for Veterans Affairs The Hon. G.G. BROCK: The member has just said that allegations and evidence have been produced. If the member— Mr Telfer House of Assembly Flinders Mr Telfer: No, I didn't. That wasn't the question. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The member for Flinders is warned. Mr Telfer House of Assembly Flinders Mr Telfer: I asked him about the processes. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The member for Flinders is warned for a second time and will cease interjecting. Members to my left and right, the minister has the call. The Hon. G.G. BROCK House of Assembly Stuart Minister for Local Government Minister for Regional Roads Minister for Veterans Affairs The Hon. G.G. BROCK: If you have any evidence whatsoever, bring it to the attention of the Electoral Commissioner. I cannot stress enough that I have the fullest confidence in the Electoral Commissioner, and if they see any anomaly they will investigate it.