Notice of change to the Register of Political Parties

Overview

The Register of Political Parties Notice, issued under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, updates the official record of registered political parties in Australia. Enacted to maintain a transparent and accountable electoral system, this Act ensures that political parties adhere to specific registration requirements and maintain updated information regarding their officers. This notice, published on 19 December 2012, updates the Register by replacing the registered officers of two political parties: The Greens (WA) Inc and Shooters and Fishers Party. The Australian Electoral Commission, acting as the delegate for the purposes of Part XI of the Act, approves these changes to reflect the current leadership within these parties, thereby upholding the policy objective of transparency and accountability in political party registration.

Scope and Application

The Register of Political Parties, as outlined in the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, applies to all registered political parties in Australia, ensuring that they maintain accurate and up-to-date records of their registered officers. This legislative framework is administered by the Australian Electoral Commission, which acts as the governing body responsible for overseeing the registration process and maintaining the register. The Act applies to political entities seeking to participate in federal elections, thereby encompassing a broad spectrum of political activities and conduct related to these entities. The geographic reach of this legislation is national, applying uniformly across all states and territories in Australia. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within the scope of this particular legislative notice, which focuses on the formal process of appointing and recording registered officers for political parties. The application of the Act may be further extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, which provide detailed guidelines and additional criteria for compliance by the registered political parties.

Key Provisions

The notice from the Australian Electoral Commission dated 19 December 2012 pertains to the Register of Political Parties under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (sections 137 and 138). The primary provision here involves the approval of applications from two registered political parties to change their registered officers. Specifically, Mr. Adam Duncan has been approved as the new registered officer for The Greens (WA) Inc, with an address at 445 Hay Street, Perth, WA 6000. Similarly, Mr. Robert Leslie Brown has been approved for the Shooters and Fishers Party, with an address at 3 Jillong Street, Rydalmere, NSW 2116. These changes are effective from the date of approval. The obligations imposed by this legislation on the parties and their new registered officers are primarily administrative. The registered officers are responsible for ensuring that their parties comply with the requirements of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, including the accurate and timely submission of financial reports and disclosures as mandated by the Act (section 148). These officers are also responsible for maintaining the integrity of the party's registration by ensuring all details provided to the Electoral Commission are correct and up-to-date. Failure to comply with the provisions of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 can result in both civil and criminal consequences. For instance, under section 276 of the Act, any person who provides false or misleading information to the Electoral Commission can be liable to a fine of up to $10,000 for each offence. Additionally, under section 277, if a party fails to submit a financial report or provides a false or misleading report, it can be subject to fines of up to $10,000 for each offence. Furthermore, under section 278, the Electoral Commission has the authority to disqualify a party from registration if it finds that the party has committed an offence involving false or misleading information or if it has failed to comply with the financial reporting requirements. These stringent penalties underscore the importance of accurate and timely compliance with the Act's requirements.