Local Government Elections

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:21): I seek leave to give a brief explanation before asking a question of the Attorney-General about local government elections.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: The Electoral Integrity Assurance Taskforce is a network of federal government agencies, including the Australian Electoral Commission, the Department of Finance, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, the Attorney-General's Department, the Department of Home Affairs, and the Australian Federal Police. This is also supported, when needed, by the national intelligence community.

My question to the Attorney is: can the Attorney advise if the Electoral Integrity Assurance Taskforce has been requested by the Electoral Commission of South Australia to assist and investigate allegations of voter fraud and irregularity in South Australia's local government elections?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:22): I thank the honourable member for her question. I can say that I have no information or advice in relation to that but, once again, I'm happy to pass that question on to my colleague the Hon. Clare Scriven, who is the minister who represents the local government minister in this chamber. So I will ask her as the other minister here who represents a minister in the other place, to see if there is any further advice on that.