Enrolling To Vote Will Require Proof Of Identity
12 April 2007
Australian citizens will need to prove their identity when enrolling to vote or updating their enrolment, as part of new federal enrolment procedures.
The Electoral Commissioner, Mr Ian Campbell said from 16 April people would need to provide proof of their identity when enrolling for the first time, re-enrolling to get back on the roll or updating their enrolment because they had moved.
A new purple enrolment form will be available from next Monday, 16 April, in all Australia Post outlets and Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) offices around the country and on the AEC website at www.aec.gov.au. Green enrolment forms, and forms downloaded from the website before 16 April, will no longer be accepted by the AEC.
Mr Campbell said there were three ways to demonstrate your identity when filling in the purple form, with most Australians simply needing to provide their Australian driver’s licence number.
“Anyone that doesn’t have a driver’s licence can show another identity document to an 'authorised person' on the electoral roll who then signs a declaration on the enrolment form,” he said.
“Thirdly, anyone that doesn’t have a driver’s licence or an acceptable identity document can have two enrolled people, who have known them for at least a month, confirm their identity by signing their form.”
More information on the identity requirements is available on the AEC’s website at www.aec.gov.au or by calling the AEC on 13 23 26
Mr Campbell also reminded people that it was their responsibility to enrol to vote and to keep it up to date by completing an enrolment form every time they move.
From Monday 16 April enrolment forms will be available at any AEC Office or Australia Post outlet, by calling the AEC on 13 23 26 or from the AEC website. You can check your enrolment status online at the AEC website or by visiting or calling the AEC.
Media contact:
Phil Diak
Director, Media
Ph: (02) 6271 4415
Mobile: 0413 452 539
2005/06 annual financial disclosure returns - Highlights
1 February 2007
The 2005/06 annual financial disclosure returns from political parties, associated entities and donors have been released for public inspection.
Those interested may access the annual returns on the AEC’s website at http://fadar.aec.gov.au/
The 2007 release of information contains 80 political party returns, 89 associated entity returns and 317 donor returns. In addition, six political party and six donor amendments have already been received.
The 2006 release of information contained 68 political party returns, 67 associated entity returns and 1,286 donor returns.
The difference in the number of donor returns is due to both the 2004 federal election, which was a strong stimulus to donate, and the increase in the threshold for disclosure in the middle of the 2005/06 disclosure period.
Total receipts for political parties for the 2005/06 financial year are substantially down on the previous financial year, which was a federal election year. Total receipts disclosed by political parties in the 2005/06 financial year are $74,556,334.55 compared to $158,293,326.75 at the time of public release of the 2004/05 annual returns.
For associated entities, the total declared receipts increased from $68,112,396.20 in 2004/05 to $113,397,256.91 in 2005/06. Most of the increase is due to a significant increase in receipts reported by one associated entity and the remainder is due to first-time returns being received from a number of trade unions affiliated with the Australian Labor Party, which are now covered by the new definition of an associated entity.
It should be noted that the current total receipts for the 2004/05 financial year will be different to that from the time of public release last year due to amendments made by parties and associated entities through the year.
Outstanding returns
The following political parties have failed to submit a return to date:
- Australian Democrats NSW Division;
- Australian Greens – SA;
- CDP (Fred Nile Group) – ACT (Deregistered 27 December 2006);
- Help End Marijuana Prohibition (Deregistered 27 December 2006);
- Nuclear Disarmament Party of Australia;
- One Nation Queensland Division (Deregistered 27 December 2006); and
- The Great Australians (Deregistered 27 December 2006).
- Family First Party - NSW **
** Amendment to media release at 12:00noon 1 Februrary 2007
A return for CDP (Fred Nile Group) – NSW was received on 22 January 2007 too late to be loaded onto the website for 1 February 2007 public release. This return will be made available shortly after the public release date.
Parties deregistered since the end of the financial year still have a disclosure obligation for the financial year 2005-06.
Attached is a fact sheet showing the basic disclosure requirements.
Media contact:
Phil Diak
Director Media
Ph: (02) 6271 4415
Mobile: 0413 452 539
Disclosure Fact Sheet
The Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 requires that registered political parties, associated entities and donors to registered political parties and associated entities furnish returns to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) each financial year.
These returns are made public in February the following year.
Political party returns must contain the following information:
- the total of receipts received during the financial year;
- the total expenditure for the financial year;
- the sum and details (date and source) of all receipts over the threshold (the threshold changed during this disclosure year. The change is discussed below); and
- the sum and details of any debts as at the end of the financial year that exceed the threshold.
Associated entity returns must contain the following information:
- the total of receipts for the financial year;
- the total expenditure for the financial year;
- the sum and details (date and source) of all receipts that exceed the threshold;
- the sum and details of any debts as at the end of the financial year that exceed the threshold; and
- the sum and details of any capital contributions that exceed the threshold each financial year.
Donor returns must contain the following information:
- where the sum of ‘gifts’ (donations) to a party or associated entity, or to another donor for the purposes of being passed on to a political party or associated entity over the financial year exceeds the threshold, the sum and details (date and recipient of the donation) of each ‘gift’; and
- the sum and details of any ‘gifts’ received by the donor that have been passed on to a political party or associated entity, or to another donor for the purposes of being passed on to a political party or associated entity.
Note that receipts include ‘gifts’ (donations) and other receipts such as returns on investments or sales of assets. Parties and associated entities are given the option of distinguishing between ‘gifts’ and other receipts in their returns.
Note also that donors are not required to make a return where they have received some consideration for their ‘gift’. Most usually, this involves the provision of a meal or a networking opportunity at a fund raiser.
Legislative change in 2006
The disclosure requirements were amended by the Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Electoral Integrity and Other Measures) Act 2006.
The threshold for disclosure increased from $1,500 to $10,000, indexed to the CPI annually. The change in the threshold took effect on 8 December 2005. Consequently, for the 2005/06 financial year, there were two discrete disclosure periods.
From 1 July 2005 to 7 December 2005, threshold of $1,500 applied, and from 8 December 2005 to 30 June 2006, the new threshold of more than $10,000.
The definition of associated entity has been expanded to include: organisations that are members of, or on whose behalf an individual is a member of, a political party; and organisations that have voting rights in, or on whose behalf an individual has voting rights in, a political party.
The change in definition means that trade unions affiliated with a political party and corporate members of political parties are now associated entities. This amendment took effect on 23 June 2006. Consequently, new associated entities have a disclosure obligation for 8 days of the disclosure period.
Australia's Newest Citizens Enrol to Vote on Australia Day
25 January 2007
On Australia Day, more new citizens enrol to vote than on any other day of the year.
This year thousands of new citizens are expected to enrol to vote at citizenship ceremonies across all parts of the country, from Cape York to Hobart and from Fremantle to Wollongong, making it one of the busiest days of the year for Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) staff.
“Voting is an integral part of our democracy and new Australians welcome the opportunity to enrol to vote. AEC staff will be attending citizenship ceremonies across the country on Australia Day to encourage new citizens to become active participants in Australia’s democracy,” said Electoral Commissioner Ian Campbell.
“Last year close to 10,000 new citizens enrolled to vote at Australia Day citizenship ceremonies around the country and this year we are at the ceremonies to encourage as many enrolments as we can.
“A federal election is expected sometime in 2007, making this an opportune time for all eligible Australians to remember to enrol to vote or to make sure their enrolment is up-to-date.
“It is important to understand that enrolment does not happen automatically as a result of becoming an Australian citizen. It is compulsory that all Australian citizens aged 18 years and older enrol to vote, as you cannot vote in Australian elections unless you are enrolled,” said Mr Campbell.
To enrol to vote or update your details you must fill out an enrolment application which are available at post offices, AEC offices and can be downloaded from the AEC website. More information is available by telephoning 13 23 26 or visiting the AEC website at www.aec.gov.au
For further information:
Phil Diak
Director, Media Section
02 6271 4415
0413 452 539
Radio news grabs available:
Phil Diak, Media Director AEC
Telephone Grab Hotline: 1300 732 445, Menu 1, Option 5 (AEC-935)
Grabs also available via AAP MediaNet®.
18 January 2007
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) and triple j are helping to ‘Rock Enrol’, a campaign encouraging young people to have their voice heard by enrolling to vote.
Rock Enrol will be prominent at the Big Day Out concert series this month, and the enrolment message will be promoted via:
- endorsements from Australian bands at the event;
- roving Rock Enrol teams, who will be at the Gold Coast Big Day Out concert this weekend and explain the steps to enrolling. The AEC will email a simple ‘how to’ and links to enrolment forms to every individual providing contact details at the event;
- Rock Enrol signage will be present in the main Big Day Out arena; and
- Rock Enrol wristbands will be distributed to every patron aged 18 years and attending the event.
This pioneering initiative will reach a youth audience of over 180,000 across Australia, many of whom will be first time voters at the federal election later this year.
The AEC’s Phil Diak says that too many young Australians who are eligible to vote are not on the electoral roll.
“If you have turned 18 years of age since the 2004 federal election, or were eligible to enrol before then and are still unenrolled, there is no better way to start the new year than to enrol. It is such a simple thing to do, and it will ensure you make your vote count in future state and federal elections,” said Mr Diak.
“Currently around one in two 18 year olds are on the electoral roll and Rock Enrol is all about doing something to help get everybody enrolled and ready to vote in a federal election expected later this year.”
To make some noise in future elections, Australians aged 17 can also enrol to vote now and be eligible to vote once they are 18 years of age.
Australia’s hottest bands and artists are getting behind the initiative including John Butler Trio, Jet, Little Birdy and Sleepy Jackson. For further information, and to check out what these artists have to say about Rock Enrol, go to www.rockenrol.com.au where you can see videos featuring all of Rock Enrol’s supporters.
Enrolment forms can also be found at www.rockenrol.com.au, or any post office or AEC office. Call 13 23 26 if you need help.
Contact:
Phil Diak
Director, Media
Australian Electoral Commission
02 6271 4415 (bus hours)
0413 452 539 (after hours)
Deregistration of Political Parties
22 December 2006
On 22 December 2006, the delegate of the Australian Electoral Commission wrote to the following political parties to advise them they would be deregistered on 27 December 2006, as required by Schedule 3 of the Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Electoral Integrity and Other Measures) Act 2006 :
Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)
Citizens Electoral Council of Australia
Citizens Electoral Council of Australia (NSW Division)
Help End Marijuana Prohibition
Hope Party – ethics equality ecology
liberals for forests
New Country Party
No Goods and Services Tax Party
Non-Custodial Parents Party
One Nation Queensland Division
One Nation Western Australia
People Power
Progressive Labour Party
Queensland Greens
Republican Party of Australia
Socialist Alliance
The Australian Shooters Party
The Fishing Party
The Great Australians
The legislation, which commenced on 22 June 2006, provided for the automatic deregistration of all currently registered political parties six months after its Royal Assent, that is on 27 December 2006, with exceptions for parties that:
- have a member in the current Commonwealth Parliament and have been reviewed by the Australian Electoral Commission as being eligible for registration during the life of the current Parliament; or
- had a member elected to a previous Commonwealth Parliament and by 25 September 2006 submitted a successful claim for exemption from deregistration on that basis with the required evidence in support.
Any political party that is deregistered may re-apply for registration, and must comply with the current requirements in the Electoral Act, including the naming provisions. Political parties that re-apply for registration within 12 months of Royal Assent will not be required to pay the $500 application fee.
Media Contact:
Phil Diak
Director, Media Section
02 6271 4415
for the latest AEC updates 
