COVID-Ready Committee

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:10): Supplementary: when did the COVID-Ready Committee first discuss the issue of the election?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (15:10): I don't have a date, but the issue has been discussed on a number of occasions. It's been discussed publicly. The Electoral Commissioner has been having his and their own discussions in relation to the issue. Clearly, it's been an issue of some ongoing interest to the Electoral Commissioner because I think it was late last year sometime there was a request for significant increase in funding to manage a COVID-impacted election campaign.

My recollection is I approved additional funding of $1.8 million to the Electoral Commission to allow him to do what he wanted to do in relation to ensuring a COVID-safe election process. As I indicated to this house yesterday, and I did so again today to some members of the media, if the Electoral Commissioner comes to me as the Treasurer and says, 'I need additional funding to make these further arrangements,' then he will be provided with the additional funding that is required to ensure, as I said, the shared objective is met; that is, that those people who want to vote are given the maximum opportunity to vote either prior to the election or on election day.