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Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters

The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters can inquire into matters referred by either House of the Parliament, or a Minister, relating to the administration of and practices associated with the following electoral laws:

Electoral Act 2017 (other than Part 3)
Electoral Funding Act 2018
provisions of the Constitution Act 1902 relating to the procedures for, and conduct of, elections for members of the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council (other than sections 27, 28 and 28A).

The administration of and practices associated with the above electoral laws relevant to the 2023 NSW state election have been referred to the Committee for inquiry. The Committee is to report on the inquiry within 18 months of the resolution being agreed to by both Houses.

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Chair:		Primrose, Peter (ALP, LC Member)
Deputy Chair:		Borsak, Robert (SFF, LC Member)
Members:		Bali, Stephen (ALP, LA Member)
		Faehrmann, Cate (GRNS, LC Member)
		Farraway, Sam (NAT, LC Member)
		Hagarty, Nathan (ALP, LA Member)
		James, Tim (LIB, LA Member)
		Nanva, Bob (ALP, LC Member)
		Quinnell, Sally (ALP, LA Member)
		Rath, Chris (LIB, LC Member)
		Saffin, Janelle (ALP, LA Member)

Referred	Inquiry
11/06/2024	Proposals to increase voter engagement, participation and confidence
30/11/2023	Administration of the 2023 NSW state election and other matters

Referred	Inquiry
13/10/2022	Recommendations made by the Independent Commission Against Corruption in its report 'Investigation into political donations facilitated by Chinese Friends of Labor in 2015'
23/03/2022	Caps on third-party campaigners' electoral expenditure in s29(11) and s35 of the Electoral Funding Act 2018
11/11/2021	Adequacy of the funding allocation of the NSW Electoral Commission for the 2023 State General Election
18/06/2019	Administration of the 2019 NSW State Election
15/08/2018	Inquiry into the impact of expenditure caps for local government election campaigns
09/08/2017	Preference counting in local government elections in NSW
17/09/2015	The Final Report of the Expert Panel – Political Donations and the Government’s Response
02/06/2015	Administration of the 2015 NSW Election and Related Matters
21/07/2014	Preparations for the 2015 NSW State Election
13/11/2012	2012 Local Government elections
13/06/2012	Administrative funding for minor parties
03/04/2012	Review of the Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Act 1912 and the Election Funding, Expenditure and Disclosures Act 1981
25/11/2011	Administration of the 2011 NSW election and related matters
03/12/2009	Public funding of local government election campaigns
03/12/2009	Public funding of election campaigns
02/03/2009	2008 local government elections
27/06/2007	Administration of the 2007 NSW election and related matters
09/05/2006	Voter Enrolment
01/09/2004	Administration of the 2003 NSW Election and related matters

Inquiry/Report	Tabled Date	Government Response
	Administration of the 2023 NSW state election and other matters	2024-10-31
31/10/2024	Administration of the 2023 NSW state election and other matters	31/10/2024	Due 01/05/2025
	Caps on third-party campaigners' electoral expenditure in s29(11) and s35 of the Electoral Funding Act 2018	2023-08-14
14/08/2023	Government response - Caps on third-party campaigners' electoral expenditure in s29(11) and s35 of the Electoral Funding Act 2018	14/08/2023
23/11/2022	Caps on third-party campaigners' electoral expenditure in s29(11) and s35 of the Electoral Funding Act 2018	23/11/2022	Due 23/05/2023
	Adequacy of the funding allocation of the NSW Electoral Commission for the 2023 State General Election	2023-08-14
14/08/2023	Government response - Adequacy of the funding allocation of the NSW Electoral Commission for the 2023 NSW state general election	14/08/2023
23/11/2022	Adequacy of the funding allocation of the NSW Electoral Commission for the 2023 State General Election	23/11/2022	Due 23/05/2023
	Administration of the 2019 NSW State Election	2021-04-28
28/04/2021	Government Response - Administration of the 2019 NSW State election	28/04/2021
28/10/2020	Final Report - Administration of the 2019 NSW State Election	28/10/2020	Due 28/04/2021
	Inquiry into the impact of expenditure caps for local government election campaigns	2019-10-16
16/10/2019	Government response - The impact of expenditure caps for local government election campaigns	16/10/2019
26/10/2018	Report - the impact of expenditure caps for local government election campaigns	26/10/2018
	Preference counting in local government elections in NSW	2018-05-22
22/05/2018	Government response - preference counting in local government elections in NSW	22/05/2018
22/11/2017	Report - preference counting in local government elections in NSW	22/11/2017	22/05/2018
	Administration of the 2015 NSW Election and Related Matters	2017-05-17
17/11/2016	Report - administration of the 2015 NSW election and related matters	17/11/2016
17/05/2017	Government response - administration of the 2015 NSW election and related matters	17/05/2017
	The Final Report of the Expert Panel – Political Donations and the Government’s Response	2016-12-22
22/12/2016	Government response - examination of the political donations final report and the government's response	22/12/2016
23/06/2016	Report - examination of the political donations final report and the government's response	23/06/2016	22/12/2016
	Preparations for the 2015 NSW State Election	2014-11-12
12/11/2014	Report - preparations for the 2015 NSW state election	12/11/2014
	2012 Local Government elections	2014-10-22
22/10/2014	Government response - 2012 local government elections	22/10/2014
27/03/2014	Report - 2012 local government elections	27/03/2014	22/10/2014
	Review of the Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Act 1912 and the Election Funding, Expenditure and Disclosures Act 1981	2013-11-05
05/11/2013	Government response - review of the Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Act 1912 and the Election Funding, Expenditure and Disclosures Act 1981	05/11/2013
09/05/2013	Report - review of the Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Act 1912 and the Election Funding, Expenditure and Disclosures Act 1981	09/05/2013	05/11/2013
	Administration of the 2011 NSW election and related matters	2013-05-30
30/05/2013	Government response - administration of the 2011 NSW election and related matters	30/05/2013
11/12/2012	Report - administration of the 2011 NSW election and related matters	11/12/2012	30/05/2013
	Administrative funding for minor parties	2013-05-16
16/05/2013	Government response - administrative funding for minor parties	16/05/2013
15/11/2012	Report - administrative funding for minor parties	15/11/2012	16/05/2013
	2008 local government elections	2010-12-10
10/12/2010	Government response - 2008 local government elections	10/12/2010
01/06/2010	Report - 2008 local government elections	01/06/2010	10/12/2010
	Public funding of local government election campaigns	2010-12-02
02/12/2010	Report - public funding of local government election campaigns	02/12/2010
	Public funding of election campaigns	2010-10-05
05/10/2010	Government response - public funding of election campaigns	05/10/2010
26/03/2010	Report - public funding of election campaigns	26/03/2010	05/10/2010
	Administration of the 2007 NSW election and related matters	2009-11-26
26/11/2009	Government response - administration of the 2007 NSW election and related matters	26/11/2009
21/05/2008	Report - administration of the 2007 NSW election and related matters	21/05/2008	26/11/2009
	Voter Enrolment	2006-09-27
27/09/2006	Report - voter enrolment	27/09/2006
	Administration of the 2003 NSW Election and related matters	2005-11-10
10/11/2005	Report - study tour of international jurisdictions - Malta, Dublin and New York	10/11/2005
15/09/2005	Report - administration of the 2003 NSW election and related matters	15/09/2005

Extracts from Votes and Proceedings No. 12, Thursday 22 June 2023

16 PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

Mr Ron Hoenig moved, by leave, That the following motions for the establishment of Parliamentary committees and the appointment of members be agreed to:

(7) Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters

That:

(1) A Joint Standing Committee, to be known as the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, be appointed.

(2) The Committee inquire into and report upon such matters as may be referred to it by either House of the Parliament or a Minister that relate to:

(a) The following electoral laws:

(i) Electoral Act 2017 (other than Part 3);

(ii) Electoral Funding Act 2018; and

(iii) Those provisions of the Constitution Act 1902 that relate to the procedures for, and conduct of, elections for members of the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council (other than sections 27, 28 and 28A);

(b) The administration of and practices associated with the electoral laws described at (a).

(3) All matters that relate to (2) (a) and (b) above in respect of the 25 March 2023 State Election, shall stand referred to the Committee for any inquiry the Committee may wish to make. The Committee shall report on the outcome of any such inquiry within 18 months of the date of this resolution being agreed to by both Houses.

(4) The Committee consist of ten members, as follows:

(a) Five members of the Legislative Assembly, and

(b) Five members of the Legislative Council.

(5) Mr Stephen Bali, Mr Nathan Hagarty, Mrs Sally Quinnell, Ms Janelle Saffin, and Mr Tim James be appointed to serve on such committee as the members of the Legislative Assembly.

(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders of either House, at any meeting of the Committee, any four members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, provided that the Committee meets as a joint committee at all times.

(7) The Committee have leave to make visits of inspection within the State of New South Wales and other States and Territories of Australia.

(8) A message be sent acquainting the Legislative Council with the resolution and requesting the Legislative Council appoint five of its members to serve with the members of the Legislative Assembly upon the Committee, and to fix a time and place for the first meeting.

Question put and passed.

Extracts from Minutes of Proceedings no 15, Thursday 29 June 2023

23 JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON ELECTORAL MATTERS

On the order of the day being read for consideration of the Legislative Assembly's message of 22 June 2023 relating to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters—

Mr Graham (on behalf of Ms Sharpe) moved, without notice:

(1) That this House agrees to the resolution in the Legislative Assembly’s message of Thursday 22 June 2023 relating to the appointment of a Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters with the following amendment, in which the concurrence of the Legislative Assembly is requested:

In paragraph (4)(b) omit "five members of the Legislative Council" and insert instead "six members of the Legislative Council".

(2) That the representatives of the Legislative Council on the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters be Mr Borsak, Ms Faehrmann, Mr Farraway, Mr Nanva, Mr Primrose and Mr Rath.

(3) That this House requests that the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly set the time and place of the first meeting.

Question put and passed.

Mr Graham then moved, according to standing order: That a message be forwarded to the Legislative Assembly conveying the terms of the resolution agreed to by the House.

Question put and passed

Extracts from Votes and Proceedings no 22, Tuesday 12 September 2023

23 JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON ELECTORAL MATTERS—CONSIDERATION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MESSAGE

Mr Ron Hoenig moved;

(1) That, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Standing Orders, the House agree to the Legislative Council's proposed amendment to the resolution of the House of 22 June 2023 appointing a Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, namely, that paragraph (4) (b) of the resolution be amended by omitting 'Five members of the Legislative Council' and inserting instead 'Six members of the Legislative Council'.

(2) That a message be sent acquainting the Legislative Council with the terms of this resolution.

Question put and passed.

Extracts from Votes and Proceedings no 39, Thursday 30 November 2023

17 JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON ELECTORAL MATTERS AMENDED TERMS OF REFERENCE

Mr Ron Hoenig moved:

(1) That the resolution of the House of 22 June 2023 establishing the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters be amended by replacing paragraph (3), with:

(3) All matters that relate to (2) (a) and (b) above in respect of the 25 March 2023 State Election, shall stand referred to the Committee for any inquiry the Committee may wish to make, including:

(i) Whether other entities and individuals whose business relates to property development should be prohibited from making political donations.

(ii) Whether it is necessary to address the risk of property developers making political donations through shell companies.

(iii) Whether truth in political advertising laws for New South Wales state elections would enhance the integrity and transparency of the electoral system, taking into account any implications of the Commonwealth's Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2023.

The Committee shall report on the outcome of any such inquiry within 18 months of the date of this resolution being agreed to by both Houses.

(2) That a message be sent informing the Legislative Council of the resolution of the House and requesting its concurrence with the amendment to the terms of reference of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters.

Debate ensued.

Ms Kobi Shetty, by leave, also spoke to the motion.

Question put and passed.

Extracts from Minutes of Proceedings No 39, Thursday 30 November 2023

49 MESSAGE FROM THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY — JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON ELECTORAL MATTERS

The President reported receipt of the following message from the Legislative Assembly:

MR PRESIDENT

The Legislative Assembly informs the Legislative Council that it has this day agreed to the following resolution:

(1) That the resolution of the House of 22 June 2023 establishing the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters be amended by replacing paragraph (3), with:

(3) All matters that relate to (2) (a) and (b) above in respect of the 25 March 2023 State Election, shall stand referred to the Committee for any inquiry the Committee may wish to make, including:

i. Whether other entities and individuals whose business relates to property development should be prohibited from making political donations.

ii. Whether it is necessary to address the risk of property developers making political donations through shell companies.

iii. Whether truth in political advertising laws for NSW state elections would enhance the integrity and transparency of the electoral system, taking into account any implications of the Commonwealth's Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2023.

The Committee shall report on the outcome of any such inquiry within 18 months of the date of this resolution being agreed to by both Houses.

Legislative Assembly GREG PIPER

30 November 2023 Speaker

Ms Sharpe moved, without notice: That this House agrees to the resolution in the Legislative Assembly’s message of Thursday 30 November 2023 amending the resolution of the Legislative Assembly of 22 June 2023 establishing the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters.

Debate ensued.

Question put and passed.

Ms Sharpe, then moved, according to standing order: That a message be forwarded to the Legislative Assembly conveying the terms of the resolution agreed to by the House.

Extracts from Votes and Proceedings no 39, Thursday 30 November 2023

36 MESSAGE FROM THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL—JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON ELECTORAL MATTERS

The Assistant Speaker reported the following message from the Legislative Council:

MR SPEAKER

The Legislative Council desires to inform the Legislative Assembly that it has this day agreed to the following resolution:

That this House agrees to the resolution in the Legislative Assembly's message of Thursday 30 November 2023 amending the resolution of the Legislative Assembly of 22 June 2023 establishing the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters.

Legislative Council BEN FRANKLIN
30 November 2023 President

Extracts from LA Votes and Proceedings and LC Minutes

Name	Role	Phone	Fax	Email
Leon Last	Director Scrutiny & Engagement	9230 3051		[email protected]
Dora Oravecz	Committee Manager	9230 3054		[email protected]

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