A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses alleged illegal activity in recent local government elections. The Minister's response outlines the process for handling reports and refers them to the Department of Local Government for assessment.

AnsweredQoN 1110Legislative Council
Asked
12 November 2009
Portfolio
Local Government

QuestionView source ↗

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS — ALLEGED ILLEGAL ACTIVITY
I refer to the recent local government elections. (1) Can the minister advise how many formal reports he has received from returning officers that have indicated there is prima facie evidence of illegal activities on the part of candidates standing for election? (2) Will the minister list the local government areas from which each of these reports has come? (3) What steps will the minister take on each of these reports? (4) Will the minister undertake to ensure that where there is prima facie evidence of breaches of the electoral provisions of the Local Government Act, prosecutions will be undertaken? (5) If not, why not? Hon PETER COLLIER

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Late yesterday, the Minister for Local Government’s electorate office received an email from a returning officer. He understands that this outlines allegations of potential breaches of the Local Government (Elections) Regulations and an assessment of these by the returning officer. The Minister for Local Government has been advised by the Electoral Commissioner that no Western Australian Electoral Commission returning officer reported evidence of illegal activities by candidates at the recent postal voting elections. (2) It is not appropriate to make this information available until the matter has been investigated. (3) The Minister for Local Government will refer this matter to the Department of Local Government for its assessment and advice. (4)-(5) The Minister for Local Government will refer any complaint received alleging a breach of the electoral provisions of the Local Government Act 1995 to the Department of Local Government for its assessment and advice.
(1) Can the minister advise how many formal reports he has received from returning officers that have indicated there is prima facie evidence of illegal activities on the part of candidates standing for election? (2) Will the minister list the local government areas from which each of these reports has come? (3) What steps will the minister take on each of these reports? (4) Will the minister undertake to ensure that where there is prima facie evidence of breaches of the electoral provisions of the Local Government Act, prosecutions will be undertaken? (5) If not, why not? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Late yesterday, the Minister for Local Government’s electorate office received an email from a returning officer. He understands that this outlines allegations of potential breaches of the Local Government (Elections) Regulations and an assessment of these by the returning officer. The Minister for Local Government has been advised by the Electoral Commissioner that no Western Australian Electoral Commission returning officer reported evidence of illegal activities by candidates at the recent postal voting elections. (2) It is not appropriate to make this information available until the matter has been investigated. (3) The Minister for Local Government will refer this matter to the Department of Local Government for its assessment and advice. (4)-(5) The Minister for Local Government will refer any complaint received alleging a breach of the electoral provisions of the Local Government Act 1995 to the Department of Local Government for its assessment and advice.
(2) Will the minister list the local government areas from which each of these reports has come? (3) What steps will the minister take on each of these reports? (4) Will the minister undertake to ensure that where there is prima facie evidence of breaches of the electoral provisions of the Local Government Act, prosecutions will be undertaken? (5) If not, why not? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Late yesterday, the Minister for Local Government’s electorate office received an email from a returning officer. He understands that this outlines allegations of potential breaches of the Local Government (Elections) Regulations and an assessment of these by the returning officer. The Minister for Local Government has been advised by the Electoral Commissioner that no Western Australian Electoral Commission returning officer reported evidence of illegal activities by candidates at the recent postal voting elections. (2) It is not appropriate to make this information available until the matter has been investigated. (3) The Minister for Local Government will refer this matter to the Department of Local Government for its assessment and advice. (4)-(5) The Minister for Local Government will refer any complaint received alleging a breach of the electoral provisions of the Local Government Act 1995 to the Department of Local Government for its assessment and advice.
(3) What steps will the minister take on each of these reports? (4) Will the minister undertake to ensure that where there is prima facie evidence of breaches of the electoral provisions of the Local Government Act, prosecutions will be undertaken? (5) If not, why not? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Late yesterday, the Minister for Local Government’s electorate office received an email from a returning officer. He understands that this outlines allegations of potential breaches of the Local Government (Elections) Regulations and an assessment of these by the returning officer. The Minister for Local Government has been advised by the Electoral Commissioner that no Western Australian Electoral Commission returning officer reported evidence of illegal activities by candidates at the recent postal voting elections. (2) It is not appropriate to make this information available until the matter has been investigated. (3) The Minister for Local Government will refer this matter to the Department of Local Government for its assessment and advice. (4)-(5) The Minister for Local Government will refer any complaint received alleging a breach of the electoral provisions of the Local Government Act 1995 to the Department of Local Government for its assessment and advice.
(4) Will the minister undertake to ensure that where there is prima facie evidence of breaches of the electoral provisions of the Local Government Act, prosecutions will be undertaken? (5) If not, why not? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Late yesterday, the Minister for Local Government’s electorate office received an email from a returning officer. He understands that this outlines allegations of potential breaches of the Local Government (Elections) Regulations and an assessment of these by the returning officer. The Minister for Local Government has been advised by the Electoral Commissioner that no Western Australian Electoral Commission returning officer reported evidence of illegal activities by candidates at the recent postal voting elections. (2) It is not appropriate to make this information available until the matter has been investigated. (3) The Minister for Local Government will refer this matter to the Department of Local Government for its assessment and advice. (4)-(5) The Minister for Local Government will refer any complaint received alleging a breach of the electoral provisions of the Local Government Act 1995 to the Department of Local Government for its assessment and advice.
(5) If not, why not? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Late yesterday, the Minister for Local Government’s electorate office received an email from a returning officer. He understands that this outlines allegations of potential breaches of the Local Government (Elections) Regulations and an assessment of these by the returning officer. The Minister for Local Government has been advised by the Electoral Commissioner that no Western Australian Electoral Commission returning officer reported evidence of illegal activities by candidates at the recent postal voting elections. (2) It is not appropriate to make this information available until the matter has been investigated. (3) The Minister for Local Government will refer this matter to the Department of Local Government for its assessment and advice. (4)-(5) The Minister for Local Government will refer any complaint received alleging a breach of the electoral provisions of the Local Government Act 1995 to the Department of Local Government for its assessment and advice.
Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Late yesterday, the Minister for Local Government’s electorate office received an email from a returning officer. He understands that this outlines allegations of potential breaches of the Local Government (Elections) Regulations and an assessment of these by the returning officer. The Minister for Local Government has been advised by the Electoral Commissioner that no Western Australian Electoral Commission returning officer reported evidence of illegal activities by candidates at the recent postal voting elections. (2) It is not appropriate to make this information available until the matter has been investigated. (3) The Minister for Local Government will refer this matter to the Department of Local Government for its assessment and advice. (4)-(5) The Minister for Local Government will refer any complaint received alleging a breach of the electoral provisions of the Local Government Act 1995 to the Department of Local Government for its assessment and advice.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) Late yesterday, the Minister for Local Government’s electorate office received an email from a returning officer. He understands that this outlines allegations of potential breaches of the Local Government (Elections) Regulations and an assessment of these by the returning officer. The Minister for Local Government has been advised by the Electoral Commissioner that no Western Australian Electoral Commission returning officer reported evidence of illegal activities by candidates at the recent postal voting elections. (2) It is not appropriate to make this information available until the matter has been investigated. (3) The Minister for Local Government will refer this matter to the Department of Local Government for its assessment and advice. (4)-(5) The Minister for Local Government will refer any complaint received alleging a breach of the electoral provisions of the Local Government Act 1995 to the Department of Local Government for its assessment and advice.
(1) Late yesterday, the Minister for Local Government’s electorate office received an email from a returning officer. He understands that this outlines allegations of potential breaches of the Local Government (Elections) Regulations and an assessment of these by the returning officer. The Minister for Local Government has been advised by the Electoral Commissioner that no Western Australian Electoral Commission returning officer reported evidence of illegal activities by candidates at the recent postal voting elections. (2) It is not appropriate to make this information available until the matter has been investigated. (3) The Minister for Local Government will refer this matter to the Department of Local Government for its assessment and advice. (4)-(5) The Minister for Local Government will refer any complaint received alleging a breach of the electoral provisions of the Local Government Act 1995 to the Department of Local Government for its assessment and advice.
(2) It is not appropriate to make this information available until the matter has been investigated. (3) The Minister for Local Government will refer this matter to the Department of Local Government for its assessment and advice. (4)-(5) The Minister for Local Government will refer any complaint received alleging a breach of the electoral provisions of the Local Government Act 1995 to the Department of Local Government for its assessment and advice.
(3) The Minister for Local Government will refer this matter to the Department of Local Government for its assessment and advice. (4)-(5) The Minister for Local Government will refer any complaint received alleging a breach of the electoral provisions of the Local Government Act 1995 to the Department of Local Government for its assessment and advice.
(4)-(5) The Minister for Local Government will refer any complaint received alleging a breach of the electoral provisions of the Local Government Act 1995 to the Department of Local Government for its assessment and advice.

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