Local Electoral (Advertising) Amendment Bill

Point of order.

Half a second, please, Tangi. Members, the House is in committee on the Local Electoral (Advertising) Amendment Bill. I remind members that they’re able to participate remotely. If you’re on Zoom and want to take a call, please type “call” into the chat. You should also use the chat if you wish to raise a point of order. If we receive any new tabled amendments, I’ll advise the members so they can refresh the House papers page to see the amendment. Finally, it would be helpful for members to ask multiple questions, if they have them, of the member in charge of the bill. Members, we come first to clause 1.

Point of order. I seek leave for all provisions to be taken as one question.

Members, leave has been sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There is none. The question is that clauses 1 to 4 stand part.

Of course I’m going to give it a go. I mentioned it in my speech around some of the alternatives to how we could help support people to feel safe in their role as a candidate in the local body elections. One of the suggestions actually came from a submitter and that was around councils, perhaps, providing those generic temporary email addresses as a point of contact.

I just wondered, did the committee seriously consider that or is the Associate Minister the Hon Kieran McAnulty aware of any work that may be done in that regard? Because if it is a real problem for people who don’t have access to a physical address or that are challenged by having cybersecurity issues or email addresses etc.—even for people who live in places like I do that have dodgy cellphone reception and internet connections—a generic email address might be the solution that local bodies could provide for candidates.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I thank the member for her question. This is actually something that officials advised the select committee on. There’s actually nothing preventing councils deciding to provide a generic email address to candidates if they so choose in regards to those who may not have access to emails. Of course, the legislation considers a number of options that may suit them.

Clauses 1 to 4 agreed to.

Bill to be reported without amendment.

House resumed.

The committee has considered the Local Electoral (Advertising) Amendment Bill and reports it without amendment. I move, That the report be adopted.

Motion agreed to.

Report adopted.

In accordance with a determination of the Business Committee, this bill is set down for third reading forthwith.

Third Reading