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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-06-15 Daily Xml
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Electoral (Telephone Voting) Amendment Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 1 June 2022.)

Mr TARZIA (Hartley) (10:32): Obviously, the Electoral Commission of South Australia published their report into the 2018 state election. Many members in this house would be aware that it was actually the former Liberal government that introduced the Electoral (Electronic Documents and Other Matters) Amendment Bill last year. That bill, unfortunately, did not progress, and then the Electoral (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill was subsequently defeated in the Legislative Council.

There were a number of amendments provided for that related to telephone-assisted voting that were included in those electoral bills. Obviously, we have a duty as legislators to ensure that the laws we develop continue to reflect the technology. The bill comprises relevant provisions from what was the bill of 2021. There are amendments that amend sections 84A, 84B and 84C of the Electoral Act. They currently provide and allow for electronically assisted voting for members of the electorate who are, if you like, sight impaired. It is important that we cater for them and allow them to participate in the democratic process as well.

It is intended that electors with a whole range of ailments, a whole range of disabilities, and also electors who may be living overseas, will be able to cast their ballot using telephone-assisted voting. This is quite a logical thing to do. It exists in other jurisdictions interstate and around the world, and we would like to see it occur. This amendment sets out in the act what would actually be a new definition of a prescribed voter, and it allows for that type of voter and the methods of assisted voting to be prescribed. That can be prescribed in regulation. Of course, it does not all have to be set out in the bill; it can also be done by regulation, which, as we have seen, can be a much more flexible way of going about things.

In terms of consultation, there is a proposal to expand telephone and other assisted voting options. It was not contained in the 2018 election report. However, what we have seen on a number of occasions is there has been commentary around it, but it was a specific recommendation made by the Electoral Commissioner during a wideranging consultation process for the 2021 bills. I commend the bill to the house. If there are no further speakers, I would be happy to move to the vote on the motion that it be read a second time.

Debate adjourned on motion of Mr Odenwalder.

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