Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

GHER (—) (): Labor will be supporting the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Assurance of Senate Counting) Bill 2021. The bill does two main things: it requires the AEC to commission and audit a risk assessment of the counting and scrutiny software used in a Senate election and it amends the way ties between candidates in the Senate election are resolved.

The bill has the aim of enhancing the transparency and integrity of our election counting system. We know that we have one of the best electoral systems in the world. The independent AEC operates with the utmost integrity and rigour and does everything right to ensure a fair and accurate election result. Nevertheless, there will always, unfortunately, be detractors and those who question the result, even when there is not a shred of evidence about anything but an accurate and transparent outcome.

We remain concerned about the messaging coming from some in this place that is designed to cast doubts on the integrity of our electoral system and to undermine our democracy. The AEC already has a robust system for assurance and transparency of its software systems; however, we are satisfied that this bill will assist in providing increased confidence to the voting public and, indeed, to parties and candidates.