Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

Before I get to the specific question, I'm happy if the opposition or, in fact, any member of parliament want to meet with the Australian Electoral Commission and discuss any concerns they might have about issues that might arise and how the AEC would answer those questions. I happen to know one of the reasons the AEC were in the building yesterday is that they were doing exactly that with one member of parliament who did have some concerns not in relation to this issue but on more general issues. I'm happy to facilitate any discussion that you might have. If you have concerns about how the AEC are going to conduct this referendum, I'm happy for the AEC to make themselves available to answer those questions and, in a sense, put your mind at rest that this is going to be a professionally conducted referendum.

In terms of some of the funding that we have set aside, in the 2022-23 October budget on the measure for delivery of the First Nations Voice to Parliament referendum preparatory work was announced to provide funding of $75.1 million over two years from 2022-23 for the AEC and other agencies to commence preparations and support work to deliver the referendum. This comprises $50.2 million in 2022-23 for the Australian Electoral Commission to commence preparations to deliver the referendum, $1.6 million over two years from 2022-23 for the Attorney-General's Department and $0.8 million for two years from 2022-23 for the Department of Finance. Then there is $160 million in the contingency reserve, a previous government decision, for further funding towards the referendum. The details will be announced in the 2023-24 budget. The final cost will be settled in the 2023-24 budget, as you would expect.