REFERENDUMS ACT 1998 - SECT 10 Distribution to electors of arguments for and against question

REFERENDUMS ACT 1998 - SECT 10

    (1)     If the Legislative Assembly resolves to submit a question to electors that relates to a proposed law passed by the Legislative Assembly:

        (a)     the majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly who voted in favour of the proposed law may authorise an argument in favour of the question for distribution to electors; and

        (b)     the majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly who voted against the proposed law may authorise an argument against the question for distribution to electors.

    (2)     If the Legislative Assembly resolves to submit a question to electors that does not relate to a proposed law passed by the Legislative Assembly, the Speaker may call for members to nominate whether they are in favour of the question or whether they are not in favour of the question.

    (3)     The majority of the members who nominate that they are in favour of the question may authorise an argument in favour of the question for distribution to electors and the majority of the members who nominate that they are not in favour of the question may authorise an argument against the question for distribution to electors.

    (4)     An argument in favour of or against a question is to consist of not more than 2,000 words.

    (5)     A copy of an argument authorised under this section is to be given to the Chief Electoral Officer not later than 3 days after the day on which the writ for the referendum is issued.

    (6)     The Chief Electoral Officer may require amendments to be made to an argument authorised under this section if he or she is of the opinion that it is grossly misleading or inaccurate.

    (7)     If the Chief Electoral Officer receives arguments authorised under this section, he or she must, as soon as practicable after the arguments are received:

        (a)     arrange for a pamphlet containing the arguments to be printed; and

        (b)     as far as is reasonably practicable, ensure that a copy of the pamphlet is posted to each elector.

    (8)     If 2 or more referendums are to be conducted on the same polling day, all the arguments authorised under this section that relate to the questions to be submitted to electors are to be printed in one pamphlet.

    (9)     The Chief Electoral Officer may arrange for arguments in favour of and against a question (that substantially reflect the arguments authorised for and against the question):

        (a)     to be published by printed advertisement or by electronic means;

        (b)     to be broadcast by radio or television; or

        (c)     to be published or broadcast by any other means, and for any period, that the Chief Electoral Officer considers appropriate.

    (10)     A pamphlet or other material prepared, printed, distributed, published or broadcast under this section is not a referendum advertisement for the purposes of Part 6.