Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

COMMONWEALTH ELECTORAL ACT 1918 - SECT 218

             (1)  A scrutineer shall not:

                     (a)  interfere with or attempt to influence any elector within the polling booth; or

                     (b)  communicate with any person in the polling booth except so far as is necessary in the discharge of the scrutineer's functions.

Penalty:  $1,000 or imprisonment for 6 months, or both.

             (2)  A scrutineer shall not be prevented from entering or leaving a polling booth during the polling, and, during the absence of the scrutineer, a relieving scrutineer may act, but so that only one scrutineer for each candidate shall be entitled to be present in the polling booth or at an issuing point at the polling booth at any one time.

          (2A)  A person who is in a polling booth in the capacity of a scrutineer shall wear a badge, supplied by the Electoral Commission, that identifies the person as a scrutineer.

             (3)  A scrutineer who commits any breach of this section, or who is guilty of misconduct, or who fails to obey the lawful directions of the presiding officer, may be removed from the polling booth by any member of the Australian Federal Police or of the police force of a State or Territory or person authorized by the presiding officer to remove the scrutineer.