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senate vote 2016-05-04#9
Edited by
mackay staff
on
2016-05-12 14:34:35
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Title
Motions — Australian Electoral Commission: Election Materials- Motions - Australian Electoral Commission: Election Materials - Use Australian paper
Description
<p class="speaker">Nick Xenophon</p><p>I, and also on behalf of Senators Madigan, Muir, Lambie and Lazarus, move:</p><p class="italic">That the Senate—</p>- The majority agreed with a [motion](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2016-05-04.151.1) that the Government should use Australian paper for ballot papers and other election materials made for the [Australian Electoral Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Electoral_Commission) (AEC), which means the motion was successful.
- The motion has been introduced by Independant Senator [Nick Xenophon](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/sa/nick_xenophon).
- ### Wording of the motion
- > *That the Senate—*
- > *(a) notes that:*
- >> *(i) it is likely that a federal election will be held on Saturday, 2 July 2016,*
- >> *(ii) it is estimated that some 40 million ballot papers will be required on election day, which is equivalent to some 700 tonnes of paper, and*
- >> *(iii) Australia is capable of producing the quantity and quality of paper required for ballot papers as well as other election material to be printed for the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) for the 2016 Federal Election; and*
- > *(b) calls on the Government to require the use of Australian paper for ballot papers and other election materials produced for the AEC.*
<p class="italic">(a) notes that:</p><p class="italic">  (i) it is likely that a federal election will be held on Saturday, 2 July 2016,</p><p class="italic">  (ii) it is estimated that some 40 million ballot papers will be required on election day, which is equivalent to some 700 tonnes of paper, and</p><p class="italic">  (iii) Australia is capable of producing the quantity and quality of paper required for ballot papers as well as other election material to be printed for the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) for the 2016 Federal Election; and</p><p class="italic">(b) calls on the Government to require the use of Australian paper for ballot papers and other election materials produced for the AEC.</p> <p class="speaker">Scott Ryan</p><p>I seek leave to make a short statement.</p> <p class="speaker">Stephen Parry</p><p>Leave is granted for one minute.</p> <p class="speaker">Scott Ryan</p><p>The AEC is required to follow the Commonwealth Procurement Rules when conducting procurements. These rules require potential contractors to be treated equitably based on their commercial, legal, technical and financial abilities and not be discriminated against due to their size, degree of foreign affiliation or ownership, location, or the origin of their goods and services. This is an important principle that our exporting businesses also rely on when supplying goods and services to overseas markets. These rules contained in our various export agreements ensure that Australian suppliers are not disadvantaged when tendering for government procurement in countries with which we have such agreements in place. I am advised by the AEC that election material procured by the AEC for the upcoming federal election will be printed within Australia.</p> <p class="speaker">Janet Rice</p><p>I seek leave to amend the motion.</p><p>Leave granted.</p><p>I move the motion as amended:</p><p class="italic">That the Senate—</p><p class="italic">(a) notes that:</p><p class="italic">  (i) it is likely that a federal election will be held on Saturday, 2 July 2016,</p><p class="italic">  (ii) it is estimated that some 40 million ballot papers will be required on election day, which is equivalent to some 700 tonnes of paper, and</p><p class="italic">  (iii) Australia is capable of producing the quantity and quality of paper required for ballot papers as well as other election material to be printed for the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) for the 2016 Federal Election; and</p><p class="italic">(b) calls on the Government to require the use of Australian paper sourced from plantation or recycled sources for ballot papers and other election materials produced for the AEC.</p> <p class="speaker">Nick Xenophon</p><p>I seek leave to make a short statement.</p> <p class="speaker">Stephen Parry</p><p>Leave is granted for one minute.</p> <p class="speaker">Nick Xenophon</p><p>Following Senator Ryan's comments, I want to make the point that our current Commonwealth Procurement Rules do not take into account the social and economic effects of buying local—the effect it has on supply chain, on local jobs and on local economies. The fact is that we have a situation where we can and do produce Australian paper for Australian ballot papers, rather than the many tonnes that are being imported right now for the July 2 election. That seems fundamentally wrong to me, given that Australian jobs are at stake.</p> <p class="speaker">Stephen Parry</p><p>The amendment was read out. It was reasonably lengthy, but I think people got the gist of it.</p><p class="italic">Senator Rice interjecting—</p><p>We need it in writing, Senator Rice. Do you have that in writing there? We just need it in writing; it does not have to be circulated. We have the amendment. Does anyone wish for the amendment to be read again? No? In that case, I will put the amendment. The question is that the amendment moved by Senator Rice be agreed to.</p><p>Question negatived.</p><p>The question now is that the motion moved by Senator Xenophon be agreed to.</p><p></p>
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