Media Release

36/2009
10 September 2009

Committee to Consider Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act

Special Minister of State and Cabinet Secretary, Senator Joe Ludwig, today announced the Government has referred the framework which governs federal referenda to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs for inquiry.

"The Government wants to ensure that the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 is modern and effective,” Senator Ludwig said.

"Options for improvement in this area were identified during a discussion at the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs roundtable in April 2008.”

"No committees appear to have looked in depth at the Referendum Act recently and this area is long overdue for reform.”

In particular, the Committee will examine the:

• processes for preparing the Yes and No cases for referendum questions;
• provisions providing for the public dissemination of the Yes and No cases; and
• limitations on the purposes for which money can be spent in relation to referenda questions.

The Committee has been asked to report to Government by 11 December 2009.

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Media Contact:	Website:
Sarah Cosson - 0423 823 843 or (02) 6277 7600	www.cabinetsecretary.gov.au www.smos.gov.au

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Last Updated: 10 September, 2009