Local Government Elections

The Hon. S.L. GAME (15:14): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, representing the Minister for Local Government, regarding voting eligibility in local government elections.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.L. GAME: Section 14 of the Local Government (Elections) Act 1990 sets out the categories of people and businesses who can vote in local government elections. Many citizens living in South Australia might be surprised to learn that people who cannot vote in state or federal elections are eligible to vote in local government elections. These people include individuals who have been here for less than a month, like international students, visitors on holiday visas, and visitors on working visas. All these people can vote in council elections.

There have long been rumours of voter manipulation related to international students in the City of Adelaide council elections, including blank votes being collected from high-rise buildings known to be occupied by high numbers of international students. My questions to the minister representing the Minister for Local Government are:

1. Does the government accept the increase in the number of international students in Adelaide today compared to 1999, when the Local Government (Elections) Act was introduced, creates the opportunity for manipulation of outcomes in some local government elections? If so, what is the government going to do about it?

2. Does the government believe people who have been in Australia for less than a month because they are visitors or international students should be allowed to vote in local government elections? If so, why is their vote equal in weight to that of an Australian citizen?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:16): I thank the honourable member for her question. I will refer the question to the relevant minister in the other place and bring back a response.