EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES NO 4 OF 1984
ISSUED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE MINISTER FOR FINANCE
The attached Statutory Rules amend Finance Regulation 6A which was made under sub-section 71(1) of the Audit Act 1901.
The amendment declares the Australian Electoral Office to be a “prescribed authority” for the purposes of the Audit Act 1901. This means that the Electoral Office is embraced by the definition of “Department” in Section 2 of the Audit Act and sub-regulation 4(1) of the Finance Regulations. As a consequence, the Chief Australian Electoral Officer is a Permanent Head for the purposes of the Audit Act and the Finance Regulations.
The declaration of the Electoral Office under Finance Regulation 6A is in keeping with the provisions of the Commonwealth Electoral Legislation Amendment Act that established an Australian Electoral Commission as a body independent of control by a Department of State. By virtue of transistional provisions of the Amendment Act, the reference in the Finance Regulations to the Electoral Office has equal application to the Electoral Commission of which the Electoral Commissioner is Permanent Head.
Minister of State for Finance