Peter Garrett MP
Member for Kingsford Smith
Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Reconciliation and the Arts
“Recommendations from the government dominated Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters will, if implemented, disenfranchise voters at the next federal election,” the Member for Kingsford Smith, Peter Garrett, said today.
The recommendations include closing the electoral roll as soon as the writs are issued, requiring voters to have photo identification and raising the disclosure threshold for political donations from $1,500 to $10,000.
“I am concerned that students, the elderly and Indigenous Australians would be particularly affected by these changes. For example, at the last election more than 380,000 people either enrolled for the first time or changed their enrolment details during the 5-day 'window' that the Howard Government wants to abolish. This included 78,000 young Australians enrolling for the first time.”
“Transient voters, like students at the University of New South Wales, would be unfairly targeted if these changes to the electoral laws were introduced. A large proportion of the 30,000 UNSW students regularly move house, and therefore would be affected by the government's recommendations.”
“Also of concern is the government's desire to raise the disclosure threshold for political donations from $ 1,500 to $ 10,000. This threat to public accountability would mean that over 80% of Coalition donations would vanish from public scrutiny.”
"These proposals are undemocratic and represent an arrogant attempt by the government to entrench itself in power."
Contact: Andrew Palfreyman 02 9349 6007