Northern Territory Electoral Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Northern Territory Electoral Regulations (Amendment) 1981, made under the Northern Territory Representation Act 1922 and the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, addresses the need to update the pricing structure for the sale of electoral rolls within the Northern Territory. Enacted by the Governor-General with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, these regulations aim to ensure that the fees for accessing electoral rolls are adjusted to reflect current economic conditions. The regulations were introduced to amend the existing Northern Territory Electoral Regulations, specifically adjusting the fees listed in Regulation 17 to better align with the administrative costs and market rates of the time. The policy objective, while not explicitly stated in the text, is to maintain the integrity and accessibility of electoral processes by ensuring that the costs associated with accessing electoral data are reasonable and reflective of current economic realities.

Scope and Application

The Northern Territory Electoral Regulations 2(Amendment) Statutory Rules 1981 No. 831, made under the authority of the Northern Territory Representation Act 1922 and the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, primarily applies to the sale of electoral rolls within the Northern Territory. This legislation specifically targets entities or individuals involved in the administration and management of electoral processes, including the sale of electoral roll information. The amendment adjusts the fees for the sale of rolls, reflecting updated costs or economic conditions. The geographic scope of this regulation is confined to the Northern Territory, thereby impacting only those electoral activities and entities operating within this jurisdiction. Notably, this legislation does not specify exclusions or exemptions but implicitly applies to all parties engaged in the sale of electoral rolls as per the revised fees. The regulation extends its application through the amendment of existing rules, ensuring that the updated fees are applied uniformly across the territory.

Key Provisions

The Northern Territory Electoral Regulations 1981 (Amendment) primarily amends Regulation 17, which pertains to the sale of electoral rolls. Specifically, it modifies the fees associated with obtaining copies of the electoral roll (s. 1). The existing fees of 0.50, 0.15, and 0.05 are replaced with new fees of 8.30, 0.80, and 0.30, respectively. This adjustment aims to reflect updated costs or policy decisions regarding the provision of electoral information. Entities or individuals seeking to purchase copies of the electoral roll under the amended regulation must comply with the new fee structure outlined in Regulation 17. This includes political parties, researchers, and other authorised persons who require access to the electoral data for legitimate purposes such as electoral campaigning or demographic studies. The obligation to pay the specified fees ensures that the administration of elections remains financially sustainable and transparent. Failure to adhere to the amended fee structure could potentially lead to non-compliance with electoral laws, resulting in civil or administrative penalties. While the specific consequences for non-compliance are not detailed in the statutory rules, it is reasonable to infer that penalties could include fines or other sanctions imposed by the relevant electoral authority. Additionally, persistent non-compliance might also lead to legal action to enforce the payment of the correct fees, ensuring the integrity and proper administration of electoral processes in the Northern Territory.