Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

I move the second government amendment which relates to the same issue, which I have previously talked to. I move:

(2) Schedule 1, item 19, page 5 (line 32) to page 6 (line 1), omit the item, substitute:

19 Subsection 239(1)

  Repeal the subsection, substitute:

Voting below the line

(1) Subject to subsection (2), a person must mark his or her vote on the ballot paper in a Senate election by:

  (a) writing at least the numbers 1 to 12 in the squares printed on the ballot paper below the line (with the number 1 being given to the candidate for whom the person votes as his or her first preference, and the numbers 2, 3, 4 and so on to at least the number 12 being given to other candidates so as to indicate the order of the person's preference for them); or

  (b) if there are 12 or fewer squares printed on the ballot paper below the line—numbering the squares consecutively from the number 1 (in order of preference as described in paragraph (a)).

Note: See also section 268A for when the vote is formal.

I commend the amendment to the Senate, which continues to help give effect to the government's commitment to introduce a form of optional preferential voting below the line where guidance is provided to voters to fill in at least 12 boxes below the line in order of their preference from 1 to 12.