Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

‘How many are there?’ is an interjection that I will take and which, of course, nobody knows the answer to. How many people will vote at the next election? Nobody knows the answer to that. How many young people, how many old people? We do not know. All we can do is try to establish the basic principles under which the Commonwealth Electoral Act will apply. That is what we have done. Trying to put a figure on it would be a guess. But, in general terms, there is no doubt in my mind that more people will become entitled to vote as a result of this particular provision. I think Senator Murray seeking to have it removed is not going to assist our new citizen community. In relation to citizenship ceremonies, which Senator Forshaw says he attends regularly, so do I.