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Second Electoral Reform Green Paper
Have your say by 27 November!
The second green paper on electoral reform was released by the Australian Government in September. The first green paper, for which the comment period has now closed, concentrated on issues relating to Australia's electoral funding and disclosure arrangements.
The second paper opens up a wider range of issues including, of particular interest to expatriates, a discussion of possible changes to the enrolment and voting arrangements for overseas Australians. In essence, the paper discusses the whole of the existing electoral law and makes suggestions about how that can be changed for the better.
The Special Minister of State, Senator Joe Ludwig, issued a
media release
when the discussion paper was published. The paper is available for examination and/or download via the links on the PM&C website. The first paper is also available on that page.
For many years the SCG has been making submissions to the Parliament seeking change in the law as it applies to overseas Australians without much success. It is pleasing to note that in Chapter 4 of the second Green Paper, at paragraphs 4.36 to 4.41 on pages 38 to 40 those issues are discussed and that in the concluding Chapter 15 - "Issues for Discussion and Comment" - a number of questions on those issues are posed for discussion.
The Government has invited public comment on the paper and the issues it raises. The closing date for submissions is 27 November 2009. Submissions can be made by email to electoralreformsecretariat@pmc.gov.au however you must include a standard cover page. Full details are available on the PM&C website.
We encourage Australians currently overseas and those who may have returned to Australia after a period overseas, to put their views to the Government by making a submission. Do not feel restricted to those questions listed in Chapter 13 if you feel that there are other matters that need consideration.
To review the many submissions on expat voting which the SCG has made to government in the last 10 years, see our website.
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