SELECT COMMITTEE ON MATTERS RELATED TO THE GENERAL ELECTION OF 20 MARCH 2010

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. J.A. Darley:

That it be an instruction to the Select Committee on Matters Related to the General Election of 20 March 2010 that its terms of reference be amended by inserting new paragraphs IA and AII as follows:

IA. To inquire into and report on matters related to the November 2010 local government elections, viz:

(a) the security and scrutiny for postal voting;

(b) the cost effectiveness of the postal voting system and alternatives to it;

(c) the effectiveness of elector registration processes for non-resident electors;

(d) factors influencing voter turnout;

(e) possible provision for mayoral candidates to contest council positions;

(f) the length of council election terms; and

(g) any other relevant matters.

AII. That the report in relation to the state general election be tabled prior to the report on the November 2010 local government elections.

(Continued from 9 February 2011.)

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (16:46): I rise to give the government's response to the motion moved by the Hon. Mr Darley. The Select Committee on Matters Related to the General Election of 20 March 2010 was established with a very precise terms of reference. These were to inquire into and report on issues that are specific not to the conduct of state elections generally but to the state election held on 20 March 2010 and issues of process and fairness that arose from this particular election; and the members of the committee were appointed with this expectation.

What the honourable member has proposed is not an extension of these terms of reference but a requirement for this committee to investigate and report on very different issues. In the first instance, state and local government elections are conducted through fundamentally different processes. As members know, voting in state elections is compulsory. Voting in local government elections is voluntary and, of course, local government elections are conducted entirely through postal voting. This means that the issues surrounding how-to-vote cards and voter identification at polling places that the committee has investigated are not relevant to the local government elections.

While the committee was established to examine particular concerns regarding process—the processes that arose from the 2010 state election—the key issue with regard to local government elections, as I am sure members will agree, is voter participation. Indeed, the honourable member acknowledged this in his amended terms of reference that he has proposed.

I am sure that the government takes a keen interest in improving community engagement with councils, particularly voter participation in local government elections. The 2010 local government elections were the first to be held since this parliament passed very significant changes to the Local Government Elections Act 1999, changes that were designed to improve both the process of local government elections and voter turnout.

The review of local government elections that preceded this legislative change was based on extensive consultation with the local government sector and the South Australian community more broadly. This review considered nearly all the issues that the honourable member is now proposing this committee investigate. Indeed, they were all subject to very spirited debate in this very place.

Of course, the fact that most South Australians choose not to vote for their council remains an important issue and one that deserves continuing attention. While it was pleasing to see an improvement in voter participation levels in the 2010 local government elections, I understand that the Department of Planning and Local Government will be working to analyse all results from the elections, with input from the Electoral Commission of South Australia and the Local Government Association. This data will underpin an assessment of whether our policy objectives have been met and any recommendations for change that may be necessary.

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY (16:49): I thank honourable members who are supportive of this motion. In particular, I thank the Hon. Stephen Wade for his support and for his contribution on behalf of the Liberal Party. As previously mentioned, the amendments to the terms of reference proposed in relation to local government elections are complementary to the current inquiry of the Select Committee on Matters Related to the General Election of 20 March 2010.

Among other things, this motion will provide the opportunity to review the manner in which local government elections are conducted in this state and to scrutinise the effectiveness of those practices. It will also provide the opportunity to consider alternative models. I remind members again that matters relating to the inquiry into state general elections will be dealt with before matters relating to local government elections. To that end, this motion will not result in any delays to the tabling of the report into the state general election. I commend this motion to the chamber.

Motion carried.