A WA parliamentary question seeks information on the Electoral Commission's policies regarding employee neutrality, previous political affiliations, and its involvement in the Ministerial Expert Committee on Electoral Reform. The answer clarifies the Commission's expectations and lack of involvement.

AnsweredQoN 109Legislative Council
Asked
12 May 2021
Portfolio
Electoral Affairs

QuestionView source ↗

ELECTORAL
COMMISSION — STAFF — NEUTRALITY
109. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Electoral Affairs:
My question without notice of which
some notice has been given is to my favourite parliamentary secretary!
I refer to the policies and
procedures applied by the Western Australian Electoral Commission in relation
to employees, whether casual or permanent, and political neutrality.
(1) Will the
minister please table any relevant document, procedure, guideline or
instruction in relation to the expectation of employees and political neutrality?
(2) Can a person
be engaged by the commission if they were previously employed by a member of
Parliament or a cabinet minister, or they are or previously have been a member
of a political party?
(3) Will the
minister please table all correspondence between the commission and any other
person in relation to the formation or operation of the Ministerial Expert Committee
on Electoral Reform?
(4) Does the
Electoral Commissioner consider the extraordinarily short period of time for
public submissions to be suitable, given the significant and complex nature of
the review?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank my
fourth-favourite Nationals WA member for some notice of the question!
(1)–(2) Employees of the Western Australian Electoral
Commission are expected to complete ''Form 1—Declaration by
Officer'' and comply with the commission's code of conduct
concerning declarations of a conflict of interest. I table a copy of both
documents.
[See paper 189 .]
(3)–(4) The
Western Australian Electoral Commission was not involved in the formation or
appointment of the Ministerial Expert Committee on Electoral Reform nor is it
involved in its ongoing operation.

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