Local Government Elections

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (14:28): Supplementary to the Attorney-General: is there a provision in the Electoral Act or the Local Government Act for a countback in the event of candidates being disqualified, and if there is, why isn't this step being considered by the government and the minister instead of trying to rush through retrospective legislation?

The PRESIDENT: Attorney, you did talk about the size and breadth of the act.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:28): I thank the honourable member for his question. I will take it on notice and check. I think there are differing provisions depending on whether an election is contested or not and if it's a mayoral election. My understanding is that certainly there will be quite a number of the—I think it was 45 councillors who failed to put a return in on time who would require a supplementary election.