I EL: 13 . Ju1 .95 21 46 No 01ij F,
FOR MEDIA PRISONER VOTING
The Acting Prime Minister, Mr Kim Beazley, today announced that the
Government would not proceed with legislation to extend voting to all
prisoners. Mr Beazley indicated he had made his decision after discussion with his
colleague the Minister for Administrative Services, Frank Walker.
Currently, prisoners who have committed offences which attract prison
sentences of five years or less are entitled to vote. The recommendation to
extend voting rights to all prisoners was put forward by the Joint Standing
Committee on Electoral Matters in its report on the 1993 Federal Election.
The recommendation was founded, in part, on advice from the Australian
Electoral Commission that the current system created administrative
difficulties. Mr Beazley said that while the Government had decided not to extend voting
rights to all prisoners, it would look at ways of streamlining current
arrangements. PERTH JULY 1995
Media Contact: John O'Callaghan
Senior Adviser
( 09) 4211 101
Keating, Paul
Period of Service: 20/12/1991 - 11/03/1996
Find more information on Keating, Paul on the:
Release Date:
10/07/1995
Release Type:
Media Release
Transcript ID:
9664
Document:
00009664.pdf
1 Page(s)
Released by:
- Keating, Paul John
FOR MEDIA PRISONER VOTING
9664