Amanda Rishworth (Kingston, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

Of course, the AEC, along with all electoral commissions in this country, deserve to be able to go about their business independently, and that includes setting deadlines and for all parties to adhere to those deadlines. These are not surprising deadlines. I found in 2021, the New South Wales Office of Local Government published a guide clearly stating that the ordinary local government elections in New South Wales would be held in September 2024. Unfortunately, owing to the chaos and incompetence of the New South Wales Liberal Party, they were the only ones not able to get their nominations in.

I am asked about any group seeking special treatment outside the electoral rules. It might come as a surprise to the House that the Liberal Party are now blaming the independent umpire, threatening legal action against the New South Wales Electoral Commissioner for their own incompetence. This makes a mockery of our independent processes and our democracy. I'm sure that the New South Wales Liberal Party is a little disappointed that Scott Morrison is no longer prime minister, because he could have secretly appointed himself as the New South Wales Electoral Commissioner and overturned the decision. They don't always have trouble with their paperwork; I'm sure if the local government association forms looked more like visas for French au pairs, they would have got it in on time.

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