The AEC helps deliver an impartial and independent electoral system through election services, assistance and advice. The AEC has a range of stakeholders. It provides support to Australian workplaces, members of parliament, political parties and candidates, state, territory and overseas electoral authorities and engages in public and private sector partnerships.

Support for workplaces

The AEC conducted 1 257 workplace elections and ballots in 2012–13. These included industrial elections, protected action ballots, and fee-for-service elections and ballots. All were effective and delivered on time.

Industrial elections

In 2012–13, the AEC conducted 186 industrial elections to fill offices in employee (unions) and employer organisations registered under the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 (Fair Work Act). In accordance with the Fair Work Act, all elections were secret ballots, using voting systems specified in the registered rules of the organisation, and all industrial elections were in accordance with the rules of the organisation. Postal voting was the most common voting method. After each election, the AEC reported to the Fair Work Commission and the organisations involved.

Protected action ballots

Protected action ballots allow working Australians to choose, by secret ballot, whether they agree with proposed industrial action, such as strikes, bans or work stoppages. Protected action ballots, conducted under the provisions of the Fair Work Act occur when a bargaining representative for an employee lodges a request with the Fair Work Commission for such a ballot during negotiations for an enterprise agreement. The Fair Work Commission appoints the AEC to run ballots.

In 2012–13, the AEC conducted 816 protected action ballots for employees from organisations across many industries.

Ballots were by post or at worksites and usually took about two weeks. Following declaration the AEC provided the results to the Fair Work Commission, the bargaining representative for the employee and the organisation. Post-ballot reports went to the Fair Work Commission.

Fee-for-service elections

AEC provides fee-for-service elections and ballots at full cost recovery. In 2012–13, the AEC delivered 186 fee-for-service elections and ballots for public and private sector organisations, seven more than in 2011–12. Of the 186 elections and ballots completed there were:

• 123 enterprise agreement ballots
• 47 elections to office
• 16 yes/no ballots

In 2012–13, the AEC provided roll maintenance, staff, facilities and resources to assist state, territory and local government electoral bodies conduct parliamentary elections. See Table 33 for more details.

The AEC assisted sectors in the Australian economy conduct important polls. For example, the AEC was the official returning officer for SugarPoll 2012, where sugarcane growers and millers voted to form Sugar Research Australia.

To build awareness of the AEC’s enterprise agreement services, the AEC engages with workplace managers and is a member of the Australian Human Resources Institute.

In 2012–13, the AEC received 115 enquiries through the AEC website, of which 45 per cent converted to actual elections and ballots.

Client satisfaction surveys show 95 per cent of clients were 'satistfied', and 86 per cent ‘very satisfied’ with the AEC’s service. Sixty-eight per cent of clients selected the AEC for its perceived reliability.

Table 6 gives a breakdown of fee-for-service and industrial elections conducted by the AEC in 2012–13.

Table 6: Industrial and fee-for-service election statistics 2012–13

	NSW	Vic.	Qld	WA	SA	Tas.	ACT	NT	Total
Elections and ballots
Contested industrial elections	34	27	11	8	7	10	0	3	100
Uncontested industrial elections	33	31	20	28	23	16	2	2	155
Protected action ballots	120	265	290	52	50	32	1	6	816
Enterprise agreement ballots	22	61	11	14	6	8	1	0	123
Other commercial elections and ballots	15	20	15	2	5	1	0	5	63
Other elections and ballots	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total elections and ballots completed	224	404	347	104	91	67	4	16	1 257
Positions
Positions available (industrial)	1 863	3 976	565	488	654	258	30	65	7 899
Unfilled positions (industrial)	583	2 521	89	201	177	39	1	15	3 626
Candidates
Candidates for uncontested offices (industrial)	1 064	1 328	414	296	472	193	29	47	3 843
Total candidates	1 717	1 601	544	363	503	248	29	65	5 070
Ballot papers
Ballot papers issued (industrial)	406 736	344 337	202 866	31 371	28 862	4 815	0	8 691	1 027 678
Ballot papers returned (industrial)	96 380	113 160	31 635	9 004	7 880	2 256	0	2 284	262 599
Ballot papers issued (protected action)	16 203	36 578	10 307	2 813	3 554	1 681	132	209	71 477
Ballot papers returned (protected action)	10 574	25 563	7 168	1 920	2 791	1 154	131	89	49 390
Ballot papers issued (enterprise agreements)	5 605	74 740	20 236	2 254	1 248	1 351	165	0	105 599
Ballot papers returned (enterprise agreements)	4 674	34 367	10 151	1 467	696	856	87	0	52 298
Ballot papers issued (other commercial)	4 235	10 267	20 095	584	661	572	0	789	37 203
Ballot papers returned (other commercial)	1 516	3 722	10 845	584	356	225	0	729	17 977
Ballot papers issued (other)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Ballot papers returned (other)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Ballot papers issued	432 779	465 922	253 504	37 022	34 325	8 419	297	9 689	1 241 957
Ballot papers returned	113 144	176 812	59 799	12 975	11 723	4 491	218	3 102	382 264

Preparing for elections and referendums

While 2012–13 was a non-election year, it was a crucial time for preparations, and the AEC continued to focus on the priorities identified after the 2010 federal election. The AEC needed to be ready to deliver an election, by-election or referendum at any time. This meant the AEC had to be ready to provide Australians with accessible and convenient ways to vote and be ready to deliver accurate and timely results.

Preparing the next federal election

The AEC’s major activity in 2012–13 was preparing to conduct a federal election at the same time as a proposed referendum. The priorities identified after the 2010 federal election were to:

• improve and increase the capacity of AEC systems to support election delivery
• implement legislative change
• redevelop protocols for internal election communication
• underpin AEC workforce capacity with refresher training, new support programs and election simulation activities.

For the AEC to run an election and a referendum together requires additional staff training, systems testing, procedures update, and supplier contracts. The AEC used the Election Preparation Program to review and monitor processes and election readiness. Of note, the AEC:

• conducted a simulated election
• developed a new electronic certified list application
• developed a polling official training DVD
• reviewed the virtual tally room.

Simulated election

Between 8 June and 20 July 2012, the AEC conducted a simulated election to replicate election activities for AEC staff. The simulation was a practical activity that reinforced operational training for both a federal election and referendum allowing for assessment and enhanced preparedness. While relevant and useful for staff, its development and implementation was a large undertaking, and the process needs refinement to make it a more efficient and effective tool.

Training polling officials

For the next electoral event, each polling official, both new and experienced, will receive an experiential DVD with training material. The DVD includes re-enactments of activities at election and referendum polling places, and reinforces and supports existing training material. The re-enactments give polling officials a uniform idea of the workings of a polling place on election day, and familiarises them with multiple scenarios.

Review of the virtual tally room

A detailed review of the AEC virtual tally room made technical improvements to enhance usability and intuitiveness.

A new home page will contain three main elements:

• a graphic showing an overall view of progressive House of Representatives results
• an improved ‘state of play of results’ table showing the relative position of the parties and independents at national and state/territory level
• aggregated results for the Coalition and the Australian Labor Party (Two Party Preferred Count) to indicate the swing to or from the major parties.

Working with other government agencies

To help deliver the next election the AEC collaborates with government agencies to assist voters including:

• The Department of Defence and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provided voting services for Australians overseas during federal electoral events.
• The Department of Human Services provide election call centre, voting services for blind and low vision voters and election service centres in 35 locations. (Election Service Centres provide face-to-face services in divisions where the divisional office is outside the divisional boundaries—the centres operate at election time only.)

Support services for members of parliament

In 2012–13, the AEC provided support services to parliament and the Special Minister of State in relation to the administration of the Electoral Act and the Referendum Act. The minister referred 103 letters on electoral matters. Major themes included legislative reform measures, voting, enrolment, and access to information from the Commonwealth electoral roll.

Providing electoral roll information to members of parliament

The AEC supplied 1 835 extracts of electoral roll information to members of parliament^a 278 less than 2011–12. A list of extracts supplied is at Table 21. This decrease is because some members now receive roll data through their party.

Providing electoral roll information to political parties

The AEC provided 656 extracts of roll information to federally registered political parties, 262 more than 2011–12. A table showing roll information provided to registered political parties is at Table 23.

The AEC manages the Register of Political Parties, assists parties, administers financial disclosure, and ensures that candidates are aware of their rights and obligations when standing for election.

Maintaining the Register of Political Parties

The AEC maintains the Register of Political Parties, required under Part XI of the Electoral Act, and assists political parties to apply for and maintain registration.

In 2012–13, the AEC:

• received and processed applications and liaised with parties to update details
• maintained the Register of Party Agents
• updated contact details for party officials (party secretary, registered officers, deputy registered officers and party agents)
• reviewed continued eligibility for registration.

Political parties are not obliged to register with the AEC, but for those that do there are benefits and obligations.

The AEC processed 38 applications to register a political party, deregister a political party or change a registered name. This was an unprecedented increase, with 30 applications received between January and June 2013. In comparison, only 20 applications were received in the lead-up to the 2010 federal election.

Requests for review of party registration decisions

In June 2013, the AEC received two applications for review of a delegate’s decision. Both related to the refusal of an application to change the registered officer of the Australian Democrats. The three Commissioners of the AEC will determine the applications as soon as practicable.

Review of current registered parties

In 2012–13, the AEC finalised its regular review of the eligibility of non-parliamentary registered political parties for continuing registration. At 30 June 2012, seven reviews were in progress. Of those seven parties, the AEC delegate approved the continuing registration of six parties and deregistered one, the Carers Alliance^b which has since successfully applied for re-registration.

The AEC reviewed all registered parliamentary parties, and all maintained eligibility for registration. In March 2013, the government amended the Electoral Act in respect of party registration provisions:

• Members of a political party used to enable registration must now be on the Commonwealth electoral roll.
• A requirement to publish party registration on the AEC website replaces the previous requirement to publish in the Commonwealth Gazette. Information about party registration is included in the AEC’s report under s.17(2) of the Electoral Act following each federal election, and covers the operation of the election funding and financial disclosure scheme at each election.

Applications to update party office holder information

In 2012–13, the AEC received 28 applications to change the details of the registered officer of a party and 123 applications to change records of other party officials (deputy, registered officers, party agents and party secretaries). This is a significant increase on 2011–12, when there was no federal election.

The AEC contacts parties through the year to ask them to check records held by the AEC concerning party officers. This request is included in most correspondence on party registration. Up-to-date details for parties are critical in an election year. The AEC updates online information for party registration including:

• the current Register of Political Parties, including registered party names, optional abbreviations, registered officer details and whether the party wishes to receive election funding
• publishing notices on party registration required under the Electoral Act
• historical information
• the AEC’s Party Registration Guide
• statements of reasons for decisions about particular applications
• forms and explanations to assist parties make applications.

Transparency of political funding

The Commonwealth funding and disclosure scheme, established under Part XX of the Electoral Act deals with the public funding of federal election campaigns and the disclosure of detailed financial information.

The disclosure scheme provides transparency of financial dealings. It requires candidates, political parties and associated entities, donors and other participants in the electoral process to lodge annual or election period financial disclosure returns with the AEC.

Lodgement and publication of financial disclosure returns

During 2012–13, the AEC received 624 annual financial disclosure returns including 518 annual financial disclosure returns, and 47 amendments covering 2011–12, and 18 annual financial disclosure returns and 41 amendments relating to previous financial years.

Returns for 2012–13 are due for lodgement after 30 June 2013. The numbers of returns lodged are summarised below.

Table 7: Financial disclosure returns lodged and published

Return type	Lodgement year
	2009–10	2010–11	2011–12
Political Party	62	67	69
Political Party – amendment	30	26	16
Associated Entity	203	196	190
Associated Entity – amendment	17	17	10
Donor	204	360	219
Donor – amendment	1	28	21
Political expenditure	35	44	40
Political expenditure – amendment	0	0	0

Online completion of financial disclosure returns including electronic signature, and lodgement with the AEC through a secure website is available. In 2012–13, uptake of the eReturns facility continued with 56 per cent of returns completed online. Table 8 shows uptake of eReturns.

Table 8: Year-on-year uptake of eReturns

Reporting period	Percentage of annual returns lodged through eReturns
2009–10	35%
2010–11	47%
2011–12	56%

Compliance reviews and special investigations

In 2012–13, 35 compliance reviews of political parties and associated entities were completed^c. These routine compliance reviews of a sample of annual disclosure returns are not investigations. Any actual or suspected failure in the disclosures under examination^d does not trigger such reviews. The AEC undertakes compliance reviews over a three-year cycle that shadows the life of the federal parliament. In the course of this cycle, every political party can expect to have at least one of its disclosure returns reviewed, and some may have all of their returns reviewed. Usual AEC practice is to review the returns for the same year of the associated entities of a party under review, particularly when it is the first disclosure return reviewed for that party in the three-year cycle.

A formal notice requiring a person to provide documents and other evidence, in writing or orally, in a manner and at a place and time specified in the notice initiates the review.

In 2012–13, there were no special investigations conducted by the AEC under section 316(3) of the Electoral Act.

Review of funding and disclosure functions

In August 2012, the Electoral Commissioner announced an independent review of the AEC’s disclosure and compliance function and the way the AEC monitors political donations under Part XX of the Electoral Act. The former Commonwealth Ombudsman, Mr Ron McLeod AM, with assistance from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) led the review.

The review focused on effective administration of the AEC’s legislative responsibilities and made recommendations to improve the operation of the disclosure compliance function. The supporting PwC technical review focused on detailed work level issues.

The review made four key recommendations:

• expand the AEC’s program of compliance reviews based on a broader use of existing powers under the Electoral Act
• adopt a new business model for the AEC’s compliance function
• establish a new risk-based AEC branch to administer the funding, disclosure and compliance schemes
• further develop and integrate the funding and disclosure IT system.

In January 2013, the Electoral Commissioner established an internal project team to consider how to implement the recommendations. The team is due to report shortly.

Election funding

The AEC calculates the election funding rate for each vote received by candidates and Senate groups that receive at least four per cent of the formal first vote in a federal election. While no elections or by-elections occurred during 2012–13, the election funding rate was:

• 242.705 cents for 1 July to 31 December 2012
• 247.316 cents from 1 January to 30 June 2013.

The funding rate payable for the 2013 federal election will be 248.800 cents.

Working with state, territory and overseas electoral authorities

The AEC promotes and develops cooperative working relationships with electoral bodies both in Australia and overseas to share expertise and build capability. Such collaboration includes:

• Electoral Council of Australia and New Zealand (ECANZ)
• Electoral Education Network (EEN)
• state and territory electoral authorities through joint roll arrangements
• the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA).

Collaboration with the Electoral Council of Australia and New Zealand

The ECANZ is a collaborative forum of electoral commissioners from Australia’s federal, state and territory electoral bodies and the Chief Electoral Officer of New Zealand. The AEC chairs and provides secretariat services. ECANZ initiatives in 2012–13 included:

• a detailed report on the state of the roll and enrolment activities, including implementation of direct enrolment and direct update
• investigation of the role of technology in voting processes, by co-sponsoring with the Victorian Electoral Commission, a workshop for practitioners and academics on electronic voting—a research paper on internet voting will be published in late 2013
• shared AEC electoral research activities, including those conducted through the Commissioner’s Advisory Board on Electoral Research
• the maintenance and review of a comprehensive list of equipment for sharing between jurisdictions, to minimise costs and maximise use of resources.

At 30 June 2013, ECANZ membership was:

• Ed Killesteyn, Electoral Commissioner, AEC and Chair of ECANZ
• Colin Barry, Electoral Commissioner, New South Wales
• Warwick Gately, Electoral Commissioner, Victoria
• Walter van der Merwe, Acting Electoral Commissioner, Queensland
• Chris Avent, Acting Electoral Commissioner, Western Australian
• Kay Mousley, Electoral Commissioner, South Australia
• Julian Type, Electoral Commissioner, Tasmania
• Phil Green, Electoral Commissioner, Australian Capital Territory
• Bill Shepheard, Electoral Commissioner, Northern Territory
• Robert Peden, Chief Electoral Officer, New Zealand.

The Electoral Education Network

In February 2013, the AEC attended the annual Electoral Education Network (EEN) conference, which the Tasmanian Electoral Commission hosted in Hobart. Established in May 2009 the EEN exists for discussion and collaboration between educators from Australian and New Zealand electoral bodies. Discussion included innovations in electoral education, the challenges and opportunities provided by social media, the national curriculum, and enrolment campaigns.

Joint roll arrangements with state and territory electoral commissions

The AEC has joint roll arrangements with the state and territory electoral commissions, and in most cases maintains the state and territory electoral rolls on their behalf.

The joint roll agreement is for the purpose of preparing, updating and revising rolls of voters for federal, state and local government elections. Joint roll agreements mean voters enrol only once for state, territory and federal enrolment. The agreements allow joint enrolment stimulation and roll review activities.

In 2012–13, the AEC provided state and territory electoral authorities with 909 products and services based on information in the electoral roll. This included data from the electoral roll for 76 electoral events in the states and territories such as:

• the state election held in Western Australia on 9 March
• elections for four Tasmanian Legislative Council divisions held on 4 May
• local government elections held in New South Wales and Victoria
• state by-elections in New South Wales for State Districts of Sydney
• 49 local government by-elections
• Legislative Assembly elections for the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory.

The AEC provided electoral roll products for the:

• redistributions of local government areas in Queensland
• state redistributions in Victoria and South Australia.

Differences between rolls

The difference between the Commonwealth and state/territory electoral rolls is an ongoing challenge. At 30 June, the details of 323 000 voters on state rolls were not up-to-date on the Commonwealth electoral roll and the details of 230 000 voters on the Commonwealth roll were not up-to-date for state purposes.

Some state enrolment requirements are different from the Commonwealth and this explains the divergence in the roll, for example, a partially completed enrolment form may meet the requirements of one jurisdiction, but not the other.

Differences are marked in New South Wales and Victoria, where state legislation permits direct enrolment and direct update. The AEC continues to work to update details for federal purposes to manage this roll divergence.

Conducting elections for the Torres Strait Regional Authority

In 2012–13, the AEC conducted TSRA Board elections for 19 of the 20 wards on 15 September and for the ward of Kubin on 8 December 2012. This was the first time the AEC conducted all elections.

Due to the geography of the Torres Strait Islands and small voter numbers in outer islands, voting options were mobile polling, pre-poll voting (Thursday Island and Cairns) and postal voting.

Advice and assistance in overseas elections

The AEC has strong relationships with many international electoral administration bodies, particularly in the Asia-Pacific, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States of America and South Africa. In particular, the AEC delivers the Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections (BRIDGE) electoral administrators’ course.

Asia-Pacific

The AEC conducted AusAID-funded electoral support programs in Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, Nepal, Bhutan and a number of Pacific islands.

In 2012–13, the AEC provided secretariat services to the Pacific Islands, Australia and New Zealand Electoral Administrators’ Network (PIANZEA), hosted two PIANZEA work placements, and began delivery of the AusAID-funded support program set for 2012–15.

In February 2013, the AEC hosted the South Asian Civic, Electoral and Voter Education Forum in Bangkok for Nepal and neighbouring South Asian countries.

Indonesia

The AEC delivers capability development assistance in Indonesia through a partnership arrangement with the Indonesian General Election Commission, the Komisi Pemilihan Umum (KPU). With an AEC employee based in Jakarta and a small team of locally engaged staff, the AEC’s activities in 2012–13 included:

• support for the KPU’s adoption of a number of electoral capability building modules offered by the internationally-awarded BRIDGE partnership
• structured comparative experience programs for a select number of KPU staff
• strategic and operational dialogue at senior officer level.

Timor-Leste

The AEC assisted Secretáriado Técnico de Administração Eleitoral (STAE) and the Comissão Nacional de Eleições (CNE), the election management bodies in Timor-Leste, prepare for parliamentary elections on 7 July 2012.

In August 2012, at the time of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly Election, the AEC delivered:

• an election study program and a BRIDGE workshop for STAE and CNE staff
• a mentoring and coaching program to STAE and CNE staff in the field, led by the AEC’s Timor-Leste program officer.

Additionally, the AEC supported Timor-Leste officers:

• attend a PIANZEA Network meeting and BRIDGE Civic Education and Voter Information Module in Wellington, New Zealand in September 2012
• participate in a PIANZEA BRIDGE Train-the-Facilitator in Niue, South Pacific, in February 2013.

Papua New Guinea

The AEC continues to provide technical assistance to the Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission (PNGEC) as part of the ‘Twinning Program’, funded by AusAID. In 2012–13, AEC assistance included:

• two AEC staff visited Papua New Guinea to update training manuals for polling staff
• support for four PNGEC officers to participate in a study program during the WA election
• electoral observation
• attendance at Electoral Support Program board meetings.

Nepal

In 2012–13, the AEC assisted the Election Commission of Nepal (ECN) with ongoing operation of the Nepalese Electoral Education and Information Centre (EEIC) in Kathmandu. Two AEC staff attended an EEIC review and planning workshop in Dhulikhel, Nepal in October 2012.

As the Australian Partner Organisation for three Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development working in the EEIC, the AEC provided pre-deployment briefings, ongoing support and mentoring.

Bhutan

The AEC’s activities in Bhutan in 2012–13 included:

• four BRIDGE workshops in Bhutan for Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) staff, teachers, non-formal education representatives, local government administrative officers, civil society, and political party and community representatives
• three civic education workshops, customised for Bhutanese needs, focussing on ‘Democracy Clubs’ in Bhutanese high schools
• ECB dispute resolution training modified using BRIDGE to contribute to the delivery of Bhutan’s 2013 parliamentary elections.

Pacific islands

As part of the AEC’s involvement in the PIANZEA Network, in 2012–13, the AEC assisted the Tongan Electoral Commission with town and district elections.

In July 2012, the AEC helped conduct a three-day training and subsequent pilot of a voter education program in Vanuatu.

The AEC also attended the:

• 2012 PIANZEA Advisory Group meeting held in Apia, Samoa
• Melanesian Voter Registration Working Party in Brisbane
• PIANZEA Network meeting in Wellington, New Zealand
• BRIDGE, train-the-facilitator workshop in Niue.

Hosting international visitors

In 2012–13, the AEC continued its collaboration with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance to host international study from African and Asia-Pacific electoral administration bodies. Funded by AusAID, there were four study groups held at the AEC to enhance the knowledge and skills of participants to administer elections in Africa. International participants came from Botswana, Burkina Faso, Federated States of Micronesia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Each study group included up to 17 international participants.

The AEC hosted international delegations, including a study visit of four election officials from Mongolia, five election officials from Bangladesh and parliamentary delegations from Vietnam and Argentina.

Partnerships to deliver international activities

The AEC works with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and AusAID to deliver international activities. AusAID primarily funds the AEC’s international activities under a strategic partnership agreement and umbrella ‘record of understanding’. In 2012–13, the AEC worked closely with other providers of international electoral assistance, including the:

• International Foundation for Electoral Systems
• United Nations Electoral Assistance Division
• United Nations Development Programme
• International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
• Commonwealth Secretariat, an intergovernmental organisation of which Australia is a member state.

Electoral research

The AEC receives expert advice from eminent researchers and experts in the Australian electoral system through the Electoral Commissioner’s Advisory Board on Electoral Research (CABER). Established in 2010, CABER fosters a connection between the AEC and the electoral research community. This helps better plan the AEC’s research activity and improve the delivery of electoral services. CABER membership is:

• Professor Ian McAllister, Chair, Australian National University
• Dr Peter Brent, The Australian, Australian National University
• Mr Antony Green, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• Mr Phillip Green, ACT Electoral Commissioner
  (representing state and territory commissions)
• Mr Brenton Holmes, Australian Parliamentary Library
• Mr Kevin Kitson, Australian Electoral Commission
• Dr Aaron Martin, University of Melbourne.

On advice from CABER the AEC:

• worked on social media research and direct update and enrolment (research reports are available)
• hosted an Electoral Research Forum on 19 and 20 November 2012 to discuss issues around participation, engagement and enrolment in Australian elections. Following the forum the CABER board decided that ‘turnout’ and ‘perceptions of electoral fraud’ were research priorities for 2013–14.

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1. Under s.90B(1) of the Electoral Act
2. This party did not satisfy the membership criterion, then failed to provide improved evidence in response to the AEC’s formal notice of the AEC’s intention to deregister the party.
3. Conducted under section 316(2A) of the Electoral Act.
4. Under section 316(2A) of the Electoral Act the AEC has power to review compliance with the disclosure obligations contained in Part XX of the Electoral Act.