ELECTION LAW – AUSTRALIA

Voter ID bill may discourage turnout and no evidence it will prevent fraud, committee says

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Original article by Paul Karp
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 11-Nov-21

The parliamentary committee on human rights has expressed reservations about the federal government’s legislation that would require voters to supply proof of their identity at polling stations on election day. Amongst other things, the committee is concerned that the voter ID laws may discourage people from voting; it also warns that the legislation may have a "disproportionate" impact on certain groups, such as the homeless and indigenous people in remote communities. The committee has also questioned whether the legislation would be effective in addressing election fraud.

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Senate vote reforms ‘will beat challenge’

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Original article by Rachel Baxendale, Phillip Hudson
The Australian – Page: 5 : 21-Mar-16

Special Minister of State Mathias Cormann is confident that the Australian Government’s changes to the voting system for the Senate will be upheld by the High Court. The Family First Party’s Senator Bob Day intends to challenge the validity of the reforms, which were passed by the Senate on 18 March 2016. Constitutional law expert Anne Twomey of Sydney University does not expect the High Court to support any challenge to the reforms.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, FAMILY FIRST PARTY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIAN MOTORING ENTHUSIAST PARTY

Turnbull gets nod for early, double dissolution election

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Original article by
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 18-Mar-16

The Senate is likely to pass laws changing the Senate voting system. The purpose of the changes is to prevent micro parties using the preference system to win Senate seats. The passage of the proposed legislation would enable Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to call an early, double-dissolution election for 2 July 2016.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Bid to clean up ‘feral’ Senate

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 20-Mar-15

Liberal Party of Australia MP Tony Smith has urged changes to the voting system for the upper house. Smith has expressed concern that the current system can be "gamed" by independents and minor parties to secure seats in the Senate. He favours a system of optional preference voting for people who chose to vote "above-the-line" on the ballot paper, which would not result in the distribution of preferences. Australian Greens senator Lee Rhiannon has supported the reform push

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LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA