The Australian Capital Territory Electoral Commission, branded Elections ACT, is the agency of the Government of the Australian Capital Territory with responsibility for the conduct of elections and referendums for the unicameralACT Legislative Assembly; the determination of electoral boundaries for the ACT; and the provision of electoral advice and services to government and on-government agencies.[1] The responsibilities and roles of the Commission are set out in the 1992 Electoral Act and subsequent amendments.[2]
Structure and Staffing
The ACT Electoral Commission comprises three statutory office holders - a part-time Chairperson (Mr David Kalisch), a full-time Electoral Commissioner (Mr Damian Cantwell AM CSC) and another part-time member (Mr Ed Killesteyn PSM). The Commissioner has the powers of a Chief Executive under the Public Sector Management Act. At election times the Commissioner seconds additional staff from the ACT Public Service and from other Australian electoral authorities and employs casual staff under the Electoral Act. Prior to 1 July 2014, the ACT Electoral Commission was under the Justice and Community Safety portfolio, with the ACT Attorney General, as the responsible Minister for Administrative purposes. Following the commencement of the Officers of the Assembly Legislation Amendment Act 2013, from 1 July 2014, the members of the Commission became Officers of the Legislative Assembly. This change in the status of the Commission reinforced the Commission's statutory independence from the Executive.
