ELECTORAL ACT 2002 - SECT 177C Distribution of arguments for and against Bill to electors

ELECTORAL ACT 2002 - SECT 177C

    (1)     This section applies if—

        (a)     a Bill to which section 18(1B) of the Constitution Act 1975 applies is to be submitted to the electors; and

        (b)     not later than 28 days before the day appointed for the taking of votes on the referendum there is forwarded to the Commission—

              (i)     an argument in favour of the Bill, consisting of not more than 2000 words, authorised by a majority of those members of the Parliament who voted for the Bill and desire to forward such an argument; or

              (ii)     an argument against the Bill, consisting of not more than 2000 words, authorised by a majority of those members of the Parliament who voted against the Bill and desire to forward such an argument.

    (2)     Unless the Premier informs the Commission that the referendum is not to be held, the Commission must, not later than 14 days before the day appointed for the taking of votes on the referendum, cause to be printed and to be posted to each elector as nearly as practicable, a pamphlet containing the arguments together with a statement setting out the text of the Bill and the text of the particular provisions of any Act proposed to be textually altered by the Bill and the textual alterations proposed to be made therein.

    (3)     If there are to be referendums upon more than one Bill on the same day—

        (a)     the arguments in relation to all the Bills must be printed in one pamphlet; and

        (b)     the argument in favour of any Bill may exceed 2000 words if the arguments in favour of all the Bills do not average more than 2000 words each and the argument against any Bill may exceed 2000 words if the arguments against all Bills do not average more than 2000 words each; and

        (c)     there may be one statement setting out all the textual alterations proposed to be made, with marginal notes identifying the proposed Bill by which each alteration or addition is proposed to be made.

    (4)     The State must not expend money in respect of the presentation of the argument in favour of, or argument against, a Bill, except in relation to—

        (a)     the preparation, printing and posting, in accordance with this section, of the pamphlets referred to in this section; or

        (b)     the preparation, by or on behalf of the Commission, of translations into other languages of material contained in those pamphlets; or

        (c)     the preparation, by or on behalf of the Commission, of presentations of material contained in those pamphlets in forms suitable for the visually impaired; or

        (d)     the distribution or publication, by or on behalf of the Commission, of those pamphlets, translations or presentations (including publication on the Internet); or

        (e)     the provision by the Commission of other information relating to, or relating to the effect of, the Bill; or

S. 177C(4)(f) amended by No. 108/2004 s. 117(1) (Sch.  3 item 62.3)

        (f)     the salaries and allowances of members of the Parliament, of members of staff of members of the Parliament or of persons who are employed under the Public Administration Act 2004 .

S. 177D inserted by No. 2/2003 s. 20.