Senator John Faulkner
17/2009
12 May 2009
The 2009-10 Budget provides $13.0 million to the Australian Electoral Commission to close the gap in areas of Indigenous disadvantage by improving the electoral enrolment and participation of Indigenous Australians.
Over the next four years, this initiative will improve electoral knowledge in Indigenous communities including such specifics as how and when to enrol and how to vote formally in elections.
Increased Indigenous enrolment levels, voter turnout and formal voting are important aims, and the AEC will tackle this issue through a continuous program of electoral education and additional promotion of enrolment and voting tailored to the needs of Indigenous communities in remote, regional and urban areas.
Consultation with Indigenous communities will be undertaken to determine the most appropriate education and enrolment activities for each local area and to provide feedback on the effectiveness of the program.
A set-up phase will commence in the coming financial year which will include consultation with Indigenous and other bodies by February 2010, and the identification and recruitment of Indigenous field staff and agents from March 2010. Full commencement will begin in July 2010.
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