Australian Electoral Office Act 1973

Legislation au C1973A00087 Not in force Act

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No. 87 of 1973

AN ACT

Relating to the Administration of Electoral Laws.

[Assented to 19 June 1973]

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen, the Senate and the House of Representatives of Australia, as follows:—

Short title.

1. This Act may be cited as the Australian Electoral Office Act 1973.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by Proclamation.

Definition.

3. In this Act, “Officer” means an Officer referred to in section 4.

Establishment of Office and offices.

4. (1) There is hereby established an Office to be known as the Australian Electoral Office, which shall consist of the Officers referred to in this section and the staff referred to in section 15.

(2) There shall be—

(a) a Chief Australian Electoral Officer;

(b) a Deputy Chief Australian Electoral Officer; and

(3) The Chief Australian Electoral Officer shall, under the Minister, control the Australian Electoral Office.

Functions and duties of Officers.

5. (1) An Officer shall have such functions, powers and duties as are conferred or imposed on him. by or under any law of the Commonwealth or of a Territory and, for that and every other purpose—

(a) a reference in any such law, or in any order or instrument under any such law, to the Chief Electoral Officer for the Commonwealth shall, in relation to anything done or to be done after the commencement of this Act, be read as a reference to the Chief Australian Electoral Officer appointed under this Act; and

(b) a reference in any such law, or in any order or instrument under any such law, to a Commonwealth Electoral Officer or to the Commonwealth Electoral Officer for a State shall, in relation to anything done or to be done after the commencement of this Act, be read as a reference to an Australian Electoral Officer or to the Australian Electoral Officer for that State appointed under this Act.

(2) In addition to his other functions, the Chief Australian Electora Officer shall, as required by the Minister, advise the Minister on matters relevant to electoral policy, legislation and procedures.

(3) The Deputy Chief Australian Electoral Officer shall assist the Chief Australian Electoral Officer as directed by him.

(4) Where—

(a) immediately before the commencement of this Act, a person, being an officer within the meaning of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918–1973, held office as a Distribution Commissioner appointed under section 16 of that Act; and

(b) that person becomes, on the date of commencement of this Act, an Officer referred to in section 4 of this Act,

his appointment as a Distribution Commissioner continues to have effect.

(5) Where, before the commencement of this Act, an arrangement had been made under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904–1972 for the taking of any steps in or in connexion with an election, or for the conduct of an election or ballot, by a person holding an office of Commonwealth Electoral Officer, those steps may be taken or completed, or that election or ballot may be conducted or completed, by the person holding the corresponding office under this Act.

Appointment of Officers and tenure of Office.

6. (1) An Officer shall be appointed by the Governor-General and, subject to this Act, holds office for seven years, but is eligible for reappointment.

(2) An Officer who is appointed or re-appointed within seven years before the day on which he will attain the age of sixty-five years ceases to hold office on that day, and a person who has attained the age of sixty-five years shall not be appointed or re-appointed as an Officer.

(3) An Officer holds office on such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with this Act, as the Governor-General determines.

Remuneration and allowances.

7. (1) The Chief Australian Electoral Officer shall be paid remuneration at such rate, and an annual allowance at such rate (if any), as the Parliament fixes, but, until 1st January, 1974, the rate of that remuneration and the rate (if any) of that allowance shall be as prescribed.

(2) The Deputy Chief Australian Electoral Officer and an Australian Electoral Officer for a State shall be paid remuneration at such respective rates as the Parliament fixes, but, until 1st January, 1974, those rates shall be as prescribed.

(3) An Officer shall be paid such allowances (not including an annual allowance) as are prescribed.

Leave of absence.

8. The Minister may grant leave of absence to an Officer upon such terms and conditions as to remuneration or otherwise as the Minister determines.

Resignation.

9. An Officer may resign his office by writing under his hand delivered to the Governor-General.

Termination of appointment.

10. The Governor-General may, with the consent of the Officer, retire an Officer on the ground of invalidity.

Suspension and removal of Officer,

11. (1) The Governor-General may suspend an Officer from office for misbehaviour or physical or mental incapacity.

(2) The Minister shall cause a statement of the ground of the suspension to be laid before each House of the Parliament within seven sitting days of the House after the suspension.

(3) Where such a statement has been laid before a House of the Parliament, that House may, within fifteen sitting days of that House after the day on which the statement has been laid before it, by resolution, declare that the Officer ought to be restored to office and, if each House so passes such a resolution, the Governor-General shall terminate the suspension.

(4) If, at the expiration of fifteen sitting days of a House of the Parliament after the day on which the statement has been laid before that House, that House has not passed such a resolution, the Governor-General may remove the Officer from office.

(5) If an Officer becomes bankrupt, applies to take the benefit of any law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors, compounds with his creditors or makes an assignment of his remuneration for their benefit, the Governor-General shall remove him from office.

(6) An Officer shall not be removed from office except as provided by this section.

Rights of public servant appointed as an Officer.

12. If a person appointed as an Officer was, immediately before his appointment, an officer of the Public Service of the Commonwealth (including an unattached officer)—

(a) he retains his existing and accruing rights;

(b) for the purpose of determining those rights, his service as an Officer shall be taken into account as if it were service in the Public Service of the Commonwealth: and

(c) the Officers’ Rights Declaration Act 1928–1969 applies as if this Act and this section had been specified in the Schedule to that Act.

Application of Superannuation Act.

13. For the purposes of sub-sections 4(3a) and (4) of the Superannuation Act 1922–1973, an Officer shall be deemed to be required, by the terms of his appointment, to give the whole of his time to the duties of his office.

Acting appointments.

14. (1) The Governor-General may appoint a person to act in the office of an Officer during any period, or during all periods, when the person holding the office is absent from duty or from Australia or is performing the duties of another office or during a vacancy in that office, but a person so appointed to act during a vacancy in an office shall not continue so to act for more than twelve months.

(2) The Governor-General may—

(a) determine the terms and conditions of appointment of a person appointed under this section; and

(b) at any time terminate such an appointment.

(3) Where a person is acting in an office in pursuance of an appointment under this section otherwise than during a vacancy in that office and the office becomes vacant while that person is so acting, that person may continue to act in the office until the Governor-General otherwise directs, the vacancy is filled or a period of twelve months from the date on which the vacancy occurred expires, whichever first happens.

(4) Sections 8 and 9 apply in relation to a person appointed under this section in like manner as they apply in relation to an Officer.

(5) While a person is acting in an office in pursuance of an appointment under this section, he has, and may exercise, all the powers and shall perform all the functions of the holder of that office under this Act or any other law.

(6) The validity of anything done by a person appointed under this section shall not be called in question on the ground that the occasion for his appointment had not arisen or that the appointment had ceased to have effect.

Staff.

15. (1) The staff required to assist the Officers in the performance of their functions shall be persons appointed or employed under, or whose services are made available in accordance with arrangements made under, the Public Service Act 1922–1973.

(2) The Chief Australian Electoral Officer has all the powers of, or exercisable by, a Permanent Head under the Public Service Act 1922–1973 so far as those powers relate to the branch of the Public Service of the Commonwealth comprising the staff referred to in sub-section (1) as if that branch were a separate Department of the Public Service of the Commonwealth.

(3) For the purposes of sub-sections 25(5) and (6) of the Public Service Act 1922–1973, the Chief Australian Electoral Officer shall be deemed to be a Permanent Head.

Regulations.

16. The Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing all matters required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed, or necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.

Overview

The Australian Electoral Office Act 1973 was enacted by the Queen, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of Australia, to address the need for an organised structure for the administration of electoral laws. This Act established the Australian Electoral Office, consisting of a Chief Australian Electoral Officer, a Deputy Chief Australian Electoral Officer, and an Australian Electoral Officer for each state, who would control the Office under the Minister. The Act outlines the functions, powers, and duties of these Officers, as well as their appointment, tenure, remuneration, and other related matters. The policy objective of the Act is to provide a framework for the effective administration of electoral laws in Australia. The Act also specifies the process for the appointment and removal of Officers, as well as the conditions under which they may be suspended or terminated from office. It further addresses the rights and conditions of public servants appointed as Officers and the application of other relevant Acts, such as the Superannuation Act and the Public Service Act. Additionally, the Act allows for the making of regulations necessary for carrying out and giving effect to the provisions of the Act. Overall, the Australian Electoral Office Act 1973 was designed to create a structured and efficient administrative framework for the management of electoral laws in Australia.

Scope and Application

The Australian Electoral Office Act 1973 establishes the Australian Electoral Office and defines the roles and responsibilities of its officers, who are responsible for administering electoral laws. This Act applies to the Chief Australian Electoral Officer, the Deputy Chief Australian Electoral Officer, and the Australian Electoral Officers for each state, all of whom are appointed by the Governor-General and hold office for up to seven years. These officers are responsible for advising on electoral policy and procedures, as well as managing the day-to-day operations related to elections. The Act also applies to the staff who assist the officers in performing their functions, who are appointed under the Public Service Act 1922–1973. The geographic reach of the Act is nationwide, as it pertains to federal elections and related administrative activities across all states and territories of Australia. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within the text of the Act itself; however, the Act may be further defined or extended through subordinate regulations made by the Governor-General.

Key Provisions

The Australian Electoral Office Act 1973 establishes an office known as the Australian Electoral Office (sections 1–4). This office consists of the Chief Australian Electoral Officer, a Deputy Chief Australian Electoral Officer, and an Australian Electoral Officer for each State. The Chief Australian Electoral Officer is responsible for controlling the Office under the direction of the Minister and must advise the Minister on electoral policy, legislation, and procedures (section 5). The Deputy Chief Australian Electoral Officer assists the Chief in carrying out his duties, while Australian Electoral Officers for each State perform their roles as defined by the Act and any applicable laws (section 5). The Act outlines the process for appointing Officers, including the Chief Australian Electoral Officer, the Deputy Chief Australian Electoral Officer, and the Australian Electoral Officers for each State. Officers are appointed by the Governor-General and hold office for seven years, with the possibility of reappointment. However, an Officer must cease holding office upon reaching the age of sixty-five, and no one over sixty-five can be appointed or reappointed (section 6). Officers are also subject to specific terms and conditions set by the Governor-General, which cannot conflict with the provisions of the Act (section 6). The Act details the remuneration and allowances for Officers. The remuneration and allowances for the Chief Australian Electoral Officer and the Deputy Chief Australian Electoral Officer are set by Parliament, with interim rates prescribed until January 1, 1974. Other Officers receive remuneration and allowances as prescribed (section 7). Additionally, the Minister has the authority to grant leave of absence to Officers under terms and conditions determined by the Minister (section 8). Officers can resign by delivering a written resignation to the Governor-General (section 9), and the Governor-General can retire an Officer upon the Officer's consent and for reasons of invalidity (section 10). The Act provides for the suspension and removal of Officers. The Governor-General can suspend an Officer for misbehaviour or physical or mental incapacity, and the Minister must then lay a statement of the grounds for suspension before each House of Parliament within seven sitting days (section 11). If a House does not pass a resolution to restore the Officer within fifteen sitting days, the Governor-General can remove the Officer. An Officer can also be removed if they become bankrupt, apply for relief under insolvency laws, compound with creditors, or assign their remuneration for creditor benefit (section 11). The Act further stipulates that an Officer can only be removed under the conditions outlined in section 11 (section 11).

Area of Law: Administrative Law
Instrument: Act
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Commencement Provisions; Delegated & Subordinate Legislation

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.

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