Australian Capital Territory Electoral Commission Explained

Agency Name:ACT Electoral Commission
Jurisdiction:ACT Government
Employees:14[1]
Chief1 Name:David Kalisch
Chief1 Position:Chairperson
Chief2 Name:Damian Cantwell
Chief2 Position:Electoral Commissioner
Chief3 Name:Ed Killesteyn
Chief3 Position:Member
Minister1 Name:Joy Burch
Headquarters:Nara Centre, 3 Constitution Avenue, Canberra City Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Minister1 Pfo:Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Budget:$4.2 million
Website:ACT Electoral Commission
Keydocument1:Electoral Act 1992[2]
Keydocument2:Electoral Regulation 1993
Keydocument3:Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1994
Keydocument4:Proportional Representation (Hare-Clark) Entrenchment Act 1994
Keydocument5:Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body Act 2008
Keydocument6:Magistrates Court (Electoral Infringement Notices) Regulation 2012
Keydocument7:Australian Capital Territory (Legislative Assembly) Act 2014

The Australian Capital Territory Electoral Commission, branded Elections ACT, is the agency of the Government of the Australian Capital Territory with responsibility for the conduct of elections and referendums for the unicameral ACT Legislative Assembly; the determination of electoral boundaries for the ACT; and the provision of electoral advice and services to government and government agencies.[3] The responsibilities and roles of the Commission are set out in the Electoral Act 1992 and subsequent amendments.

Structure and Staffing

The ACT Electoral Commission comprises three statutory office holders - a Chairperson (David Kalisch), an Electoral Commissioner (Damian Cantwell) and a member (Ed Killesteyn). The Commissioner has the powers of a Chief Executive under the Public Sector Management Act 1994. At election times the Commissioner may draw additional staff from the ACT Public Service and from other Australian electoral authorities and employs casual staff under the Electoral Act 1992. Prior to 1 July 2014, the ACT Electoral Commission was under the Justice and Community Safety portfolio, with the ACT Attorney General, as the responsible Minister for Administrative purposes; the Commission also reports to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. Following the commencement of the Officers of the Assembly Legislation Amendment Act 2013, from 1 July 2014, the members of the Commission became Officers of the Legislative Assembly. This change in the status of the Commission reinforced the Commission's statutory independence from the Executive.

See also

Notes and References

  1. 3 October 2024 . Annual Report 2022–2023 . 3 October 2024 . 4 October 2023 . ACT Electoral Commission . David W . Kalisch . Damien . Cantwell . Killesteyn . Ed . 26, 60 . live . 978-0-642-60769-0 . Nara Centre, Constitution Avenue Canberra City ACT . https://web.archive.org/web/20241003011138/https://www.elections.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/2472272/2023-annual-report.pdf.
  2. Web site: 3 October 2024 . 3 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241003010235/https://www.elections.act.gov.au/elections/our-electoral-system/elections-in-the-act/legislation . Legislation . Elections ACT . live.
  3. Web site: Who we are. ACT Electoral Commission. 2010-08-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20241003012321/https://www.elections.act.gov.au/about-the-commission/who-we-are. 3 October 2024. live.