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

The Electoral Commissioner is an independent statutory officer and that is as it should be, because while all of us are actors in the political process, it's very important for the Electoral Commissioner to exercise his responsibilities independently. If this bill is passed by the parliament, and based on the indications so far it will be, then the Electoral Commissioner will have the opportunity to make certain arrangements around authorisation requirements. But it will be a matter for him—if, how and when he chooses to exercise those powers.