STATUTORY RULES.
1928. No. 139.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT (ADMINISTRATION) ACT 1924-1928.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1924-1928 and the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918-1928, to come into operation upon the date of the commencement of the Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1928.
Dated this twentieth day of December, One thousand nine hundred and twenty-eight.
STONEHAVEN
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
A. J. McLACHLAN
for Minister of State for Home Affairs.
Seat of Government Electoral Regulations.
(Statutory Rules 1928, No. 116.)
Regulation 27 of the Seat of Government Electoral Regulations is amended by omitting from sub-regulation (3.) the word “twenty-one” and inserting in its stead the word “eighteen”.
By Authority: H. J. Green, Government Printer, Canberra.
3331.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1928, No. 139, are Regulations under the Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1924-1928, enacted by the Governor-General in Council. These regulations were introduced to provide administrative and electoral framework for the Seat of Government, specifically to address the need for streamlined governance structures in the new federal capital of Australia. The enactment of these regulations was an effort to ensure that the administrative and electoral processes in the newly established Seat of Government were efficient and aligned with broader national legislative objectives. These regulations, therefore, fill a legislative gap by providing specific rules to govern the electoral processes within the newly established Seat of Government, reflecting the policy objective of orderly and effective governance.
Scope and Application
The Seat of Government Electoral Regulations, established under the Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1924-1928, apply to individuals and entities involved in the electoral process within the Australian Capital Territory. These regulations are designed to govern the conduct and transactions related to the election of members to the Federal Parliament from the ACT, thereby ensuring the proper administration of the electoral process in this unique jurisdiction. The regulations have a specific geographic reach, applying only within the Australian Capital Territory, which is the designated seat of government. Notably, these regulations were enacted to address the voting age for electors, with the amendment reducing the age from twenty-one to eighteen, thereby aligning the ACT's voting age with the rest of the nation. The application of these regulations is further extended or restricted through subordinate instruments as necessary to maintain the integrity and fairness of the electoral process within the ACT.
Key Provisions
The key operative sections of these regulations primarily concern changes to the Seat of Government Electoral Regulations, specifically amending Regulation 27 to lower the voting age from twenty-one to eighteen (Regulation 27). This amendment reflects the updated legal age of majority, aligning the voting rights of individuals in the seat of government with the broader national standards.
These regulations impose certain obligations on the parties or entities they govern, particularly in relation to electoral processes and the administration of elections within the seat of government. By lowering the voting age to eighteen, the regulations ensure that all eligible citizens within this jurisdiction are granted the right to participate in federal elections, thereby fulfilling a democratic mandate. Additionally, these regulations require adherence to the procedural and administrative frameworks already established under the Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1924-1928 and the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918-1928.
The breach of these regulations may result in various civil or criminal consequences, although specific penalties are not detailed within the legislative instrument itself. Typically, electoral law violations can result in fines, disqualification from voting, or in more severe cases, criminal charges. The maximum penalties would be guided by the overarching acts under which these regulations operate, such as the Seat of Government (Administration) Act and the Commonwealth Electoral Act. These acts provide a framework within which the severity of penalties for non-compliance is determined, ensuring that the electoral process is administered fairly and legally.
In summary, these regulations are integral to ensuring the democratic rights of individuals within the seat of government are upheld. By amending the voting age to eighteen, they align with broader legislative changes and ensure that all eligible citizens can participate in federal elections. While specific penalties for breaches are not outlined in this particular instrument, they would be in accordance with the broader legislative acts under which these regulations operate.