Ben Morton (Tangney, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister and Cabinet) Share this | Hansard source

You really have to wonder why the Labor Party this morning took action against the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Voter Integrity) Bill 2021 before even reading it. What is it that scares them so much about having integrity in our electoral system? Not only did JSCEM recommend this in 2019; it also recommended it in 2016 after the election. I actually thought that the report after the 2013 election was very well written, and I'd refer members to it. The bill will ensure that the Australian electoral system comes into line with other liberal democracies, like Canada, France, Belgium, Sweden and all but 14 states in the US. The United Kingdom is introducing this legislation. But, before the Labor Party even see the detail on this bill, they are in here trashing it. Interestingly, in Queensland, in the last three elections, there has been one instance of requiring voter ID, and in that election there was a higher turnout than in the two subsequent elections without it.

The Labor Party are against this for all the wrong reasons, and one has to wonder why they are. You have to show ID to pick up a parcel at the post office, yet this lot won't allow more integrity in our electoral system to ensure that the right people are having their names marked off the roll. I have to question the motivation of those opposite. Taking action this morning against the bill, before you see the detail—it makes you wonder.

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