❓ Hon Giz Watson asks about ensuring prisoners serving sentences less than three years can vote in Commonwealth elections following the Roach High Court decision. The Minister confirms arrangements are in place with the AEC to facilitate this.
AnsweredQoN 769Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PRISONERS - ELECTORAL FRANCHISE
I refer to the recent High Court decision of Vickie Lee Roach v Electoral Commissioner and Commonwealth of Australia, which overturned the disenfranchising of prisoners in commonwealth elections. (1) Will the minister ensure that all Western Australian prisoners who serve a sentence of less than three years can vote in the upcoming commonwealth elections? (2) If yes to (1), how will the minister ensure that these prisoners can vote? (3) If no to (1), why not? Hon JON FORD
I refer to the recent High Court decision of Vickie Lee Roach v Electoral Commissioner and Commonwealth of Australia, which overturned the disenfranchising of prisoners in commonwealth elections. (1) Will the minister ensure that all Western Australian prisoners who serve a sentence of less than three years can vote in the upcoming commonwealth elections? (2) If yes to (1), how will the minister ensure that these prisoners can vote? (3) If no to (1), why not? Hon JON FORD
AnswerView source ↗
I thank Hon Giz Watson for some notice of this question. The Minister for Corrective Services has supplied the following answer. (1) Yes. (2) Following the High Court decision, the department immediately began working with the Australian Electoral Commission and arrangements are already in place to ensure maximum cooperation by superintendents at each prison for both enrolment and voting by eligible prisoners. (3) Not applicable.
(1) Will the minister ensure that all Western Australian prisoners who serve a sentence of less than three years can vote in the upcoming commonwealth elections? (2) If yes to (1), how will the minister ensure that these prisoners can vote? (3) If no to (1), why not? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Giz Watson for some notice of this question. The Minister for Corrective Services has supplied the following answer. (1) Yes. (2) Following the High Court decision, the department immediately began working with the Australian Electoral Commission and arrangements are already in place to ensure maximum cooperation by superintendents at each prison for both enrolment and voting by eligible prisoners. (3) Not applicable.
(2) If yes to (1), how will the minister ensure that these prisoners can vote? (3) If no to (1), why not? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Giz Watson for some notice of this question. The Minister for Corrective Services has supplied the following answer. (1) Yes. (2) Following the High Court decision, the department immediately began working with the Australian Electoral Commission and arrangements are already in place to ensure maximum cooperation by superintendents at each prison for both enrolment and voting by eligible prisoners. (3) Not applicable.
(3) If no to (1), why not? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Giz Watson for some notice of this question. The Minister for Corrective Services has supplied the following answer. (1) Yes. (2) Following the High Court decision, the department immediately began working with the Australian Electoral Commission and arrangements are already in place to ensure maximum cooperation by superintendents at each prison for both enrolment and voting by eligible prisoners. (3) Not applicable.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Giz Watson for some notice of this question. The Minister for Corrective Services has supplied the following answer. (1) Yes. (2) Following the High Court decision, the department immediately began working with the Australian Electoral Commission and arrangements are already in place to ensure maximum cooperation by superintendents at each prison for both enrolment and voting by eligible prisoners. (3) Not applicable.
I thank Hon Giz Watson for some notice of this question. The Minister for Corrective Services has supplied the following answer. (1) Yes. (2) Following the High Court decision, the department immediately began working with the Australian Electoral Commission and arrangements are already in place to ensure maximum cooperation by superintendents at each prison for both enrolment and voting by eligible prisoners. (3) Not applicable.
(1) Yes. (2) Following the High Court decision, the department immediately began working with the Australian Electoral Commission and arrangements are already in place to ensure maximum cooperation by superintendents at each prison for both enrolment and voting by eligible prisoners. (3) Not applicable.
(2) Following the High Court decision, the department immediately began working with the Australian Electoral Commission and arrangements are already in place to ensure maximum cooperation by superintendents at each prison for both enrolment and voting by eligible prisoners. (3) Not applicable.
(3) Not applicable.
(1) Will the minister ensure that all Western Australian prisoners who serve a sentence of less than three years can vote in the upcoming commonwealth elections? (2) If yes to (1), how will the minister ensure that these prisoners can vote? (3) If no to (1), why not? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Giz Watson for some notice of this question. The Minister for Corrective Services has supplied the following answer. (1) Yes. (2) Following the High Court decision, the department immediately began working with the Australian Electoral Commission and arrangements are already in place to ensure maximum cooperation by superintendents at each prison for both enrolment and voting by eligible prisoners. (3) Not applicable.
(2) If yes to (1), how will the minister ensure that these prisoners can vote? (3) If no to (1), why not? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Giz Watson for some notice of this question. The Minister for Corrective Services has supplied the following answer. (1) Yes. (2) Following the High Court decision, the department immediately began working with the Australian Electoral Commission and arrangements are already in place to ensure maximum cooperation by superintendents at each prison for both enrolment and voting by eligible prisoners. (3) Not applicable.
(3) If no to (1), why not? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Giz Watson for some notice of this question. The Minister for Corrective Services has supplied the following answer. (1) Yes. (2) Following the High Court decision, the department immediately began working with the Australian Electoral Commission and arrangements are already in place to ensure maximum cooperation by superintendents at each prison for both enrolment and voting by eligible prisoners. (3) Not applicable.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Giz Watson for some notice of this question. The Minister for Corrective Services has supplied the following answer. (1) Yes. (2) Following the High Court decision, the department immediately began working with the Australian Electoral Commission and arrangements are already in place to ensure maximum cooperation by superintendents at each prison for both enrolment and voting by eligible prisoners. (3) Not applicable.
I thank Hon Giz Watson for some notice of this question. The Minister for Corrective Services has supplied the following answer. (1) Yes. (2) Following the High Court decision, the department immediately began working with the Australian Electoral Commission and arrangements are already in place to ensure maximum cooperation by superintendents at each prison for both enrolment and voting by eligible prisoners. (3) Not applicable.
(1) Yes. (2) Following the High Court decision, the department immediately began working with the Australian Electoral Commission and arrangements are already in place to ensure maximum cooperation by superintendents at each prison for both enrolment and voting by eligible prisoners. (3) Not applicable.
(2) Following the High Court decision, the department immediately began working with the Australian Electoral Commission and arrangements are already in place to ensure maximum cooperation by superintendents at each prison for both enrolment and voting by eligible prisoners. (3) Not applicable.
(3) Not applicable.
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