❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the cost, staffing, training, and potential problems encountered during the recent local government elections. The answer provides details on staffing, training, and acknowledges some delays due to a cautious approach with new voting methods.
AnsweredQoN 1516Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL GOVERNMENT — ELECTIONS
1516. Hon TJORN SIBMA to the parliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Electoral Affairs:
I refer to the recent local
government elections.
(1) What was the cost to the state government and the Western
Australian Electoral Commission for conducting the elections?
(2) How many WAEC staff were
employed during the election period?
(3) What specific
training and preparation did the WAEC undertake to implement the state
government's tranche of legislative changes?
(4) Were any
problems encountered during the vote-tallying process, and were there any
delays to the timely declaration of results?
(5) What would
these problems be attributed to?
1516. Hon TJORN SIBMA to the parliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Electoral Affairs:
I refer to the recent local
government elections.
(1) What was the cost to the state government and the Western
Australian Electoral Commission for conducting the elections?
(2) How many WAEC staff were
employed during the election period?
(3) What specific
training and preparation did the WAEC undertake to implement the state
government's tranche of legislative changes?
(4) Were any
problems encountered during the vote-tallying process, and were there any
delays to the timely declaration of results?
(5) What would
these problems be attributed to?
AnswerView source ↗
I
thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. On behalf of the
Minister for Electoral Affairs, I have the following answer, which I provide on
behalf of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Electoral Affairs.
(1) The Western Australian
Electoral Commission has not yet finalised reconciliation of all invoices
incurred for the 2023 ordinary local government elections held on 21 October
2023.
(2) The
commission engaged approximately 1 435 staff for the local government
elections. As with all elections, the commission's permanent workforce
of around 45 staff was supplemented by contract and temporary personnel staff.
(3) The
commission undertook its usual planning processes for the 2023 local government
ordinary elections as well as training for returning officer liaison officers
and returning officers, including a two-day face-to-face workshop. An online
learning management system, manuals and video instructions were also available
to returning officers. Returning officers were provided with materials for
training count staff for their local government election. Additional online
training was provided closer to the election for the count and results.
(4)–(5) The
commission always applies the principle of accuracy over speed to the counting
of votes, and took a cautious approach to the results phase of the 2023
ordinary local government elections, noting the introduction of new voting and
counting methods. The Electoral Commission provided advice to local governments
and candidates in the lead-up to the elections that results might not be
available until the Monday or Tuesday. This advice was also published on the
WAEC website. The majority of local government election results were declared
by close of business on Monday, 23 October 2023. It is acknowledged that the
commission's cautious approach contributed to some delays in
communication with returning officers, to allow them to finalise counts. This
has been identified in debrief workshops and will be addressed for future local
government elections.
thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. On behalf of the
Minister for Electoral Affairs, I have the following answer, which I provide on
behalf of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Electoral Affairs.
(1) The Western Australian
Electoral Commission has not yet finalised reconciliation of all invoices
incurred for the 2023 ordinary local government elections held on 21 October
2023.
(2) The
commission engaged approximately 1 435 staff for the local government
elections. As with all elections, the commission's permanent workforce
of around 45 staff was supplemented by contract and temporary personnel staff.
(3) The
commission undertook its usual planning processes for the 2023 local government
ordinary elections as well as training for returning officer liaison officers
and returning officers, including a two-day face-to-face workshop. An online
learning management system, manuals and video instructions were also available
to returning officers. Returning officers were provided with materials for
training count staff for their local government election. Additional online
training was provided closer to the election for the count and results.
(4)–(5) The
commission always applies the principle of accuracy over speed to the counting
of votes, and took a cautious approach to the results phase of the 2023
ordinary local government elections, noting the introduction of new voting and
counting methods. The Electoral Commission provided advice to local governments
and candidates in the lead-up to the elections that results might not be
available until the Monday or Tuesday. This advice was also published on the
WAEC website. The majority of local government election results were declared
by close of business on Monday, 23 October 2023. It is acknowledged that the
commission's cautious approach contributed to some delays in
communication with returning officers, to allow them to finalise counts. This
has been identified in debrief workshops and will be addressed for future local
government elections.
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