❓ Opposition asks about legal advice sought by the government regarding potentially shifting the 2025 state election date due to a possible clash with the federal election. The government acknowledges seeking advice but doesn't disclose details.
AnsweredQoN 1435Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
2025 STATE ELECTION
1435. Hon TJORN SIBMA to the Leader of the House representing
the Premier:
I
refer to the Premier's public remarks yesterday that confirmed the
government has sought legal advice on potentially shifting the date of the state election from 8 March
2025 to avoid the potential of the federal election being conducted at
the same time.
(1) What were the precise terms of
the state government's legal inquiry and when was the request made?
(2) Noting that any potential change to the timing of
the state election will have a broad impact on all candidates and
parties contesting the election and will have a profound logistical impact on
the operations of the Western Australian Electoral Commission, will the state
government waive legal privilege and make the legal advice public?
1435. Hon TJORN SIBMA to the Leader of the House representing
the Premier:
I
refer to the Premier's public remarks yesterday that confirmed the
government has sought legal advice on potentially shifting the date of the state election from 8 March
2025 to avoid the potential of the federal election being conducted at
the same time.
(1) What were the precise terms of
the state government's legal inquiry and when was the request made?
(2) Noting that any potential change to the timing of
the state election will have a broad impact on all candidates and
parties contesting the election and will have a profound logistical impact on
the operations of the Western Australian Electoral Commission, will the state
government waive legal privilege and make the legal advice public?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(2) In
2025, there is a possibility that a federal election could be called in close
proximity to the fixed state election date, the first occasion when this has
been a possibility since the introduction of fixed state election dates in
2011. Given this, it was prudent for the state government to seek legal advice
last year on implications for the state election date if the federal election
is called close to the state election. In the event a federal election is
called in proximity to the state election, the state government will work with the Western Australian Electoral Commission and
the state opposition to ensure that the Western Australian election runs
smoothly.
some notice of the question.
(1)–(2) In
2025, there is a possibility that a federal election could be called in close
proximity to the fixed state election date, the first occasion when this has
been a possibility since the introduction of fixed state election dates in
2011. Given this, it was prudent for the state government to seek legal advice
last year on implications for the state election date if the federal election
is called close to the state election. In the event a federal election is
called in proximity to the state election, the state government will work with the Western Australian Electoral Commission and
the state opposition to ensure that the Western Australian election runs
smoothly.
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