Ricky Muir (Victoria, Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move amendments (1) to (5) on sheet 7878 revised together:

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

  (a) in the case that:

     (i) the election is of Senators for a State following the dissolution of the Senate under section 57 of the Constitution; and

     (ii) there are more than 30 candidates on the ballot paper;

     writing at least the numbers 1 to 30 in the squares printed on the ballot paper below the dividing 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 to 30 being given to other candidates so as to indicate the order of the person's preferences for them); or

(b) in the case that:

     (i) the election is of Senators for a Territory; and

     (ii) there are more than 12 candidates on the ballot paper;

     writing at least the numbers 1 to 12 in the squares printed on the ballot paper below the dividing 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 to 12 being given to other candidates so as to indicate the order of the person's preferences for them); or

(c) in the case that:

     (i) the election is of Senators for a Territory; and

     (ii) there are fewer than 12 candidates on the ballot paper;

     numbering the squares consecutively from the number 1 (in order of preference as described in paragraph (c)); or

(d) in any other case:

     (i) if there are more than 15 candidates on the ballot paper—by writing at least the numbers 1 to 15 in the squares printed on the ballot paper below the dividing 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 to 15 being given to other candidates so as to indicate the order of the person's preferences for them); or

     (ii) if there are fewer than 15 candidates on the ballot paper—by numbering the squares consecutively from the number 1 (in order of preference as described in subparagraph (i)).

(2) Schedule 1, page 6 (after line 19), after item 21, insert:

21A Paragraph 268(1)(b)

  Repeal the paragraph, substitute:

  (b) subject to section 269, in a Senate election, it has no vote indicated on it, or it is not marked in accordance with subsection 239(1);

(3) Schedule 1, items 26 and 27, page 7 (lines 16 to 21), omit the items, substitute:

26 Section 270

  Repeal the section.

(4) Schedule 1, item 41, page 13 (Form E), omit "By numbering these boxes 1 to (7) in the order of your choice (with number 1 as your first choice)", substitute "By numbering (7)".

(5) Schedule 1, item 41, page 13 (Form E), omit "(7) Here insert number of candidates.", substitute:

(7) Here insert:

  (a) in the case of an election of Senators for a State following the dissolution of the Senate under section 57 of the Constitution where there are more than 30 squares to be printed on the ballot paper below the dividing line—"at least 30 of these boxes in the order of your choice (with the number 1 as your first choice)"; and

(b) in the case of an election of Senators for a Territory where there are more than 12 squares to be printed on the ballot paper below the dividing line—"at least 12 of these boxes in the order of your choice (with the number 1 as your first choice)"; and

(c) in the case of an election of Senators for a Territory where there are fewer than 12 squares to be printed on the ballot paper below the dividing line—"these boxes in the order of your choice (with the number 1 as your first choice)"; or

(d) in any other case:

  (i) if there are more than 15 squares to be printed on the ballot paper below the dividing line—"at least 15 of these boxes in the order of your choice (with the number 1 as your first choice)"; or

(ii) if there are fewer than 15 squares to be printed on the ballot paper below the dividing line—"these boxes in the order of your choice (with the number 1 as your first choice)".