Dear Electoral Commission of NZ.
How are you all? Getting ready for the election next year?
Great.
Now it would be hypocritical of me to write to you all and not point out that I think most of your management should be sacked. The dreadful manner in which your agency has gone out of its way to disenfranchise the vote of so many NZers living in Poverty and fleeing from abuse has directly resulted in fewer and fewer NZers participating in elections.
How you all keep your jobs amazes me.
That said, I know some staff do care so I would like to start pushing now for a serious change in policy in an attempt to reverse the damaged quality of our democracy from low voter participation.
I’ve spoken to many people on the fringes of society and asked them why they don’t vote, the answer is always the same, some fear that their details will be used by Government agencies hunting them down, some fear debt collectors hunting them down, and some fear abusive ex partners hunting them down.
Currently your conditions to get on the unpublished roll are quite frankly disgraceful.
First you refuse to even include the fears of debt collectors or the ever increasing mass surveillance of our State Agencies as even a reason to get on the unpublished roll, and secondly the hoops you make the survivors of abusive relationships jump through to get on the unpublished roll are too severe.
I honestly wonder based on the difficulties you place in front of abuse survivors to get on the unpublished roll how many NZers actually even use that feature.
I demand a change.
If you want to raise the level of participation so that it’s not just rich prick boomer property speculators turning NZ into a de facto Plutocracy, you should change the rules to allow anyone to go on the unpublished roll to eliminate the fears from the poor of being chased by debt collectors and State Agencies and you should make that process as easy as ticking a box.
Without removing the fear of retribution towards the poor you have inadvertently created a system that favours the wealthy and the white.
You’ve managed to make the one person one vote principle of Democracy meaningless.
Do something about it.
Yours
Martyn Bradbury
Editor of The Daily Blog
Host of Waatea 5th Estate
agree Martyn, what you suggest would be a good start, people dodge the census to fly under the radar too, but may end up sabotaging their communities in respect to planning and what future funding there is
the funding appeared to be down for publicising the last general election by the Electoral Commission, the Nats are more than happy to just have their toadies and supporters voting
there will be ways soon for people without permanent addresses to participate, the Indian govt. is apparently recording peoples eyes for ID purposes and commercial interests have divided the world up into 9 metre squares such as…
http://what3words.com
and while they mainly want to facilitate courier deliveries from online shopping there are other uses
the actual “how” of voting is more important than many think–e.g. “hanging chads”, denying prisoners a vote, limiting booths etc
Yeah your Martyn too many NZers have been disenfranchised and these people are disgusting I don’t know how they sleep at night and most of them should get the boot so should the media when we get a change of government many heads need to roll
You are so right Martyn,
You should send a copy to the NZ Electoral Commissioner “for his response only” to;The Chief Electoral Officer is Robert Peden. He is based in Wellington at the office of the Electoral Commission. His contact details are Robert Peden, Chief Electoral Officer, PO Box 3220, Wellington, ph 04 495 0030.
The process of ‘heads rolling’ will be a long and protracted one after National lose this upcoming election. Expect a total cleaning out of many departments, media and so on.
Expect a year at least to round them all up and to be given the old heave ho.
I hope you are right Wild Katipo, that’s exactly what I would like to see happen.
So what if they’re on the unpublished roll, as long as they’re enrolled. Actually why publicise your private details anyway?
You’re right, the current system does a fine job of discouraging and if that’s the point why have a so-called democracy at all?
I completely support you on this Martyn Bradbury. Been saying for a number of years now that the Electoral Commission is corrupt, and cannot be trusted to do the right thing, even to the point of emailing them and telling them so. I think I can safety say that as long as the Nats hold power, the EC will continue to get worse, and they don’t give a stuff either.
I fully agree Martyn.
I do not have a listed phone number , in fact I have done away with our landline completely.
I would like to not be listed on the electoral role either, but need to be to vote.
And democracy is very important to me.
But that is being abused by the minor parties, to the Governments advantage.
This is the part of MMP I do not like one bit.
Include me in with your sentiments, Martyn. One of my relations is in permanent hiding from a violent ex. There is no way in Hades she would ever reveal her whereabouts either on the electoral roll or in a phone book.
So she is disenfranchised.
Electoral Commission: DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!!!!!!!!!
You are a moaning, whining idiot
GROW UP HGC
Another thing we found with any answers from the NZ Electoral Commission was a lot of replies come from people with no title and some times with no full names either?????
They seem to want to be anonymous or seem to be avoiding their identification or something?
I am less confident in my trust of them than before I began asking after their activities now!!!!
Would you care to elaborate Mr HGC? Or were those 6 words the sum total of your intellectual output for the week?
To Martyn: well said, sir! We support your sentiments 101%!
HGC – Spoken like a true right-winger who can’t verbalise his thoughts in any meaningful way.
Martyn,
Martyn,
This is the organisation that does the Local Body stuff and if the Government (NZ Election Commission) shunt you elsewhere, this guy is very good we had a lot to do with him on the local body “Amalgamation” issue that tried to do what Government wanted (another waste of money) and we kept all our local councils gladly.
Our Team. electionz.com has … Warwick Lampp, Chief Electoral Officer & Business Development Manager. wlampp@electionz.com + 64 3 377 3530: electionz.com Ltd.
Martyn,
Lastly we got more out of the NZ Electoral Commission when we requested information using a OIA request!
We slapped this evidence on our Electoral Commissioner last month, that the Australian Election Commission totally revamped their procedure dramatically also after they had a scandal during their last Election in 2013 as many voting ballots went missing in Western Australia!
Now their Commissioner has publically vowed to reform the whole Australian Electoral system!
When I challenged our NZ Electoral Commissioner to do the same after lots of paper’s went missing here during the flag referendum the legal office for the NZ Elections said they would not make any changes. Here is the whole challenge we made and their reply. (Sorry about the length of the post here.)
Martyn the short answer we got back from NZ Electoral Commissioner was;
“We are doing fine thanks.” (My interpretation); Martyn we need political opposition and their legal representation to demand changes here because of the lost ballot papers during the Flag referendum NZ Election Commission held! as Australia did. We legally have to as we also along with Australia have a binding agreement under ECANZ the election regulatory body. (see below)
Message from the Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers was very strong in favour of dramatic changes still not carried out in NZ yet.
TO SUMITTERS;———————————————–
Thank you for your e-mail expressing support to changes that the Australian Electoral Commission has made in order to further enhance the security of ballot papers during elections.
The New Zealand Electoral Commission similarly wants the people of New Zealand to trust, value and take part in Parliamentary elections. We maintain high integrity in systems and processes and value each and every vote.
In the six months following a general election in New Zealand, the Commission identifies beneficial operational and policy changes including any proposals for legislative reform. Over the following eighteen months we undertake and test any required or approved updates to systems and processes. From that point onward we begin implementing our plan for delivering the next election that includes a robust training programme with all staff, to ensure that everyone understands their role and responsibilities.
The Commission is aware of changes made by other electoral bodies and takes lessons learned by them into consideration when reviewing our own processes. Whilst we have not had a situation as happened in Western Australia, you can be assured that the integrity, security and accountability of ballot papers and other electoral materials remains of upmost importance to us.
Kind Regards
Allison | Electoral Commission
Our submission to NZ Electoral Commission sent 4/7/16 with the evidence of Australian Electoral Commission dramatic changes after the western Australian missing ballot papers scandal in 2013.
Sent: Monday, 4 July 2016 12:15 p.m.
To: ‘Public Enquiries’; Enquiries@Elections.govt.nz
Subject: OIA request for ELECTORAL REFORM – NZ Electoral changes TO NZ ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER.4/7/2016. Election reform similar to Australian Election Commissioner Tom Rogers.doc NZ ELECTORAL COMMISSION MUST HARMONISE WITH AEC AS A SIGNED PARTNER IN ECANZ
Importance: High
Quote; From Australian Electoral Commission website. New changes from; Australian Election Commissioner Tom Rogers.
“These values frame how AEC staff work.
In four years the AEC must have re-established its reputation for delivering trusted, consistently reliable, high quality, high integrity elections. The next federal election will be the AEC’s first opportunity to demonstrate this on a large scale.
Ballot paper principles
The AEC upholds the sanctity of the ballot paper in all its forms and at all times.
This is given effect through two principles:
1
All ballot papers remain ‘live’ from printing through to statutorily authorised destruction.
2
The security, integrity and accountability of ballot papers must be preserved at all times – including transit and storage by the AEC, contractors, or other third parties.
These principles underpin all AEC planning, training, systems, handling and practices associated with ballot papers. They show how important ballot paper security is, and provide a basis for the treatment of every ballot paper from printing to destruction, by anyone who handles ballot papers, including but not limited to staff, polling officials and contractors.
APS values
The AEC is committed to the APS values of being impartial, committed to service, accountable, respectful and ethical. They are core components of a positive culture, stewardship, high performance, and leadership. The ability of the AEC to perform its core function, that is, to deliver electoral events impartially and independently, depends on all staff acting in accordance with these values on a personal level. Given the AEC’s public profile, all staff must action and model these values in all dealings with the public and each other.”
________________________________________
Subject; Australian Election Commissioner Tom Rogers. (AEC) 2015
Our submission to NZ Electoral Commissioner requesting for changes already introduced at AEC (evidence provided below)
4th July 2016. This submission is placed under the OIA for response from the NZ Electoral Commissioner inside the prescribed time under the OIA.
This concern’s us as registered NZ voters begun from the Western Australian Elections involving the missing ballot papers scandal, that forced AEC Tom Rogers to introduce new AEC changes to make the electoral process being impartial, committed to service, accountable, respectful and ethical. These are just some of the new goals/changes in the AEC we in the NZ Electoral Commission must adopt for voters ahead of the next election.
Message from the Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers was very strong in favour of dramatic changes still not carried out in NZ yet.
Ballot paper principles
The AEC upholds the sanctity of the ballot paper in all its forms and at all times.
This is given effect through two principles:
1
All ballot papers remain ‘live’ from printing through to statutorily authorised destruction.
2
The security, integrity and accountability of ballot papers must be preserved at all times – including transit and storage by the AEC, contractors, or other third parties.
These principles underpin all AEC planning, training, systems, handling and practices associated with ballot papers. They show how important ballot paper security is, and provide a basis for the treatment of every ballot paper from printing to destruction, by anyone who handles ballot papers, including but not limited to staff, polling officials and contractors
The AEC is committed to the APS values of being impartial, committed to service, accountable, respectful and ethical. They are core components of a positive culture, stewardship, high performance, and leadership. The ability of the AEC to perform its core function, that is, to deliver electoral events impartially and independently, depends on all staff acting in accordance with these values on a personal level. Given the AEC’s public profile, all staff must action and model these values in all dealings with the public and each other.
New changes within the (AEC) operations have been implemented now that the NZ ‘s Election Commissioner must consider to harmonise with our nearest associated trade partner as being a partner/MEMBER of ECANZ
Submitters; ——————————–to NZ Election Commissioner 4/7/2016.
http://www.eca.gov.au/about/members.htm.
http://www.themandarin.com.au/23349-fall-rise-aec/?pgnc=1
““
The fall and rise of AEC: how Tom Rogers got out the vote”
________________________________________
by
Harley Dennett 23.02.2015 PEOPLETom Rogers Australian Electoral Commission
Public agency reform watchers should add the Australian Election Commission’s Senate Estimates hearing tomorrow to their diary. Commissioner Tom Rogers will outline how he’s turning the place around.
Electoral commissioner Tom Rogers will arrive at Additional Estimates tomorrow with a reform plan already underway and the agency back on track after, arguably, the most troubled year of any public body.
Offered a tabula rasa and political will to make ambitious reforms, Rogers is seizing the opportunity. There’s no time for rest — the next federal election is around the corner, there can be no do-over, and no excuses if the Prime Minister makes an early call.
In the 12 months since former commissioner Ed Killesteyn resigned over the bungled 2013 Western Australian Senate election, Rogers has led the agency through a series of very public autopsies of its local mistakes, systemic failings and Rumsfeldian unknown-unknowns. Behind the scenes, Rogers has been building a reform program the likes of which few agency heads get an opportunity to pursue. In December, he was appointed to a five-year term in the commissioner role, a sign of the government’s confidence in this direction at the agency.
Tom Rogers; Australian Electoral Commissioner.
“Annus horribilis” Rogers replied when senators asked how he was holding up at one of his many inquiry appearances on Capitol Hill last year as acting commissioner. It was a moment of levity from the former 20-year veteran Army officer, who knows only too well the magnitude of the agency reputation repair task still before him.
Rogers has spent no time bemoaning the situation he has inherited as commissioner. No matter who he’s speaking with, he’s at pains to reinforce the facts: the AEC “stuffed up” and major reform is required. The fault was the AEC’s own complacency, nobody else’s, not the government or the minister, nor the parliamentary committee who oversees its operations.
Rogers can’t dictate the attitude of all his agency personnel, but he is trying to lead by example, not content to rely on an all-staff email, but repeating the mea-culpa at every opportunity until the culture catches on that there was a problem, it’s internal, and they can use all the external help they can get.
The AEC’s cultural complacency was thrown into sharp relief during the WA recount. As Rogers tells it, when the state manager fessed up on a video conference with head office that votes may have been missing, “it’s like the room elongated”. The WA officials still believed this was just a labelling error, they’d be discovered in another pallet, and there was no reason to panic. Famous last words of many a public official.
Rogers, then deputy commissioner, was the first head office official sent to WA to figure out what actually happened. The investigation tick-tock has him boarding a flight just hours after it was revealed there was no additional pallet with the missing votes. Within seven minutes of arriving at the recount centre he reported back to Killesteyn that there was a major problem that, like a plane crash, went beyond any single fault. Decades of Australia’s reputation for being global leaders in election management would evaporate that day.
“It’s an absolute opportunity,” Rogers now says. “You don’t often get a chance to say whatever we were doing was wrong. It’s now publicly known that it was wrong. We’ve got a blank canvas to actually fix it.”
“It’s now publicly known that it was wrong. We’ve got a blank canvas to actually fix it.”
“It’s now publicly known that it was wrong. We’ve got a blank canvas to actually fix it.”
Multiple reports have been published of the lost WA senate votes, from Mick Keelty, the Auditor-General Ian McPhee, and the joint standing committee on electoral matters. All of them were constructive and valuable — it really wasn’t known before these investigations just how extensive the failings in the system were — but still the findings were difficult to hear for any public official, especially as it concerns one of Australia’s most cherished democratic institutions. Rogers accepted them all as they were released, all the findings, all the recommendations, without question. They were all helpful, free advice from experts only interested in getting the AEC where it needed to be. McPhee weighed in during his testimony on his latest audit report of AEC, revealing that the electoral commission sought ANAO’s ongoing advice and expertise even after the report was handed down.
The sweeping Keelty recommendations are being used as more of a minimum standard Rogers has set for the agency as they aim to deliver the best possible election, at a time they don’t yet know, with even more safeguards in place than ever before.
Core reforms in the first tranche included numerous additional security measures on the ballot logistics side and an overhaul of training for its officials and temporary personnel. An embarrassing lack of in-house project management expertise was revealed as part of the most recent audit, since corrected to ensure the training package is delivered on time.
People and technology reforms are being considered in the next tranche. Electronic voting rolls will play a role in fast detection of multiple-voters; already 7700 cases from the last election have been ruthlessly pursued. Informal discussions have also occurred with the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ census team on better ways to hire, or share, temporary staff. The AEC recruits and trains approximately 70,000 temporary polling officials for each federal election.
Rogers says these will not be either a quick or an easy fix.
“We continue to adapt our reform model to meet emerging issues and we are currently examining other ways we can ensure a speedy, controlled and successful reform journey,” he said.
“As a result of the directions I have given, the next federal election, should the electoral cycle run to a full term, will be staffed by an election workforce trained using contemporary learning methods and content and will apply processes that are consistent from polling place to polling place and from count centre to count centre. The organisation will also be operating within an approved assurance, compliance and planning framework supported by long-term implementation of better commercial practices for the handling and security of ballot papers and other election materials.”
http://www.aec.gov.au/media/media-releases/2013/e11-06.htm
Updated: 6 November 2013
Yesterday Mr Mick Keelty AO APM commenced his inquiry into the circumstances of the missing ballot papers identified during the recent recount of Senate votes in Western Australia.
The inquiry will include identifying any administrative process and/or procedural failures that may have occurred as well as providing findings and recommendations to the Australian Electoral Commission.
Mr Keelty has been offered the full cooperation of the AEC in conducting his independent inquiry. Five Canberra-based AEC staff are currently assisting Mr Keelty with his inquiry, with further resourcing available should it be requested.
Mr Keelty is in Canberra this week receiving briefings from the AEC. He is expected to travel to Perth next week to progress the inquiry and is due to provide an interim report by the end of November.
Mr Keelty’s report will be considered by the full Electoral Commission, who will determine further actions after due consideration of the report’s findings and recommendations.
In the meantime, the AEC is presently considering its position in relation to a possible petition to the Court of Disputed Returns in relation to the WA Senate outcome.
Editor’s note: Mr Keelty is currently not available for interview. Further information will be provided as it becomes available.
National media contact:
Phil Diak | Director Media
AEC, Canberra
02 6271 4415
0413 452 539
media@aec.gov.au
The reforms the AEC has planned next following the Western Australian …
http://www.aec.gov.au/about_aec/Publications/corporate-plan.htm
Message from the
Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers
This is the corporate plan for the future of the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). We are on a new road and we are committed to the change journey that commenced following the 2013 federal election. The plan sets out our strategic direction for the years 2015-2019, the strategies to get us there, and the key indicators of our performance. It is also designed to ensure we meet the expectations of the Australian Government and the Australian public.
To this end, we have identified five agency directions:
• deliver a changed model for elections and referendums
• govern the organisation for quality and assurance
• professionalise the workforce
• re-establish the reputation of the AEC, and
• build an agile and responsive organisation.
Every part of the AEC has a role to play in rebuilding the confidence and trust of our stakeholders and the Australian public. We will do this by reforming our processes and systems, embedding our values of quality, agility and professionalism in everything we do, and demonstrating our commitment to electoral integrity. We have also adopted the principle ‘every task matters’, which applies no matter what that task is.
Our first opportunity to publicly demonstrate this will be the next federal election. By 2019, we aim to have re-established our reputation by delivering trusted, consistently reliable, high quality and high integrity electoral events and services.
Tom Rogers
Electoral Commissioner
About the AEC
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is an independent statutory authority responsible for administering the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (the Electoral Act). The AEC must conduct federal elections and referendums, maintain the Commonwealth electoral roll and administer Part XX of the Electoral Act, which deals with political funding and disclosure. The AEC also provides a range of electoral information and education programs.
The AEC has a three tier structure: a national office in Canberra, state and territory offices located in each capital city and divisional offices responsible for electoral administration for each electoral division.
Our purpose
The AEC is funded to deliver one key outcome:
Maintain an impartial and independent electoral system for eligible voters through active electoral roll management, efficient delivery of polling services and targeted education and public awareness programs.
Environment
The AEC’s reputation was deeply impacted by issues associated with the conduct of the 2013 federal election.
Repairing the AEC’s reputation will take time.
The AEC is operating in an external environment characterised by reduced trust in institutions, increased demand for flexible, accessible and online services and a leaner, more competitive public service.
Never before has information been so readily accessible by the public at large and they are, quite reasonably, using this information to hold the public service to greater account.
The external operating environment for electoral management bodies, both domestically and internationally, is also dynamic.
The AEC, like electoral management bodies around the world, must meet shifting community expectations of timely service delivery, including an increased use of technology in all aspects of election delivery. Similarly, the Australian Government public service reform agenda, including digital transformation and shared provision of services will require the AEC to remain agile and flexible.
Performance
Our focus
The AEC’s focus is on electoral integrity through the AEC values of quality, agility and professionalism.
Quality must be evident in every task across the AEC, and excellence in practice must be the driving force behind every aspect of the AEC’s business. Planning, policy, procedure and service delivery must reflect this, ensuring the AEC delivers nationally consistent and reliable elections.
Agility is a critical feature of modern public sector agencies. It is defined by an ability to readily and swiftly adapt to change, to operate effectively despite uncertainty, and to be flexible and innovative. An agile AEC looks for innovative solutions, rather than obstacles to improvement.
Professionalism must be the hallmark of the AEC. A professional AEC is made up of competent, knowledgeable and skilled electoral practitioners, whose work is marked by proficiency.
These values frame how AEC staff work.
In four years the AEC must have re-established its reputation for delivering trusted, consistently reliable, high quality, high integrity elections. The next federal election will be the AEC’s first opportunity to demonstrate this on a large scale.
Ballot paper principles
The AEC upholds the sanctity of the ballot paper in all its forms and at all times.
This is given effect through two principles:
1
All ballot papers remain ‘live’ from printing through to statutorily authorised destruction.
2
The security, integrity and accountability of ballot papers must be preserved at all times – including transit and storage by the AEC, contractors, or other third parties.
These principles underpin all AEC planning, training, systems, handling and practices associated with ballot papers. They show how important ballot paper security is, and provide a basis for the treatment of every ballot paper from printing to destruction, by anyone who handles ballot papers, including but not limited to staff, polling officials and contractors.
APS values
The AEC is committed to the APS values of being impartial, committed to service, accountable, respectful and ethical. They are core components of a positive culture, stewardship, high performance, and leadership. The ability of the AEC to perform its core function, that is, to deliver electoral events impartially and independently, depends on all staff acting in accordance with these values on a personal level. Given the AEC’s public profile, all staff must action and model these values in all dealings with the public and each other.
Our future direction
Agency directions
Over the next four years the AEC will focus its efforts on five complementary directions to successfully deliver the next federal election and position the AEC for the future (including the 2019 federal election and beyond). The agency directions are to:
Deliver a changed model for elections and referendums. Govern the organisation for quality and assurance. Professionalise the workforce. Re-establish the reputation of the AEC. Build an agile and responsive organisation.
In addition to the agency directions, the AEC will continue to focus on its legislative deliverables. These are:
1. federal elections, by-elections and referendums
2. electoral roll management
3. support services for electoral redistributions
4. party registration and financial disclosure
5. industrial and commercial elections
6. public awareness.
During 2015-16 the AEC will implement a number of activities that will provide confidence the AEC is appropriately placed to deliver the agency directions.
Agency direction Strategies Key performance indicators
Deliver a changed model for elections and referendums 1.1 Design and implement a coherent, integrated election plan.
1.2 Reform electoral business processes and practices. 1. Federal electoral events are successfully delivered.
2. Maintain ability to conduct a federal electoral event within the timeframe determined by the Electoral Commissioner.
Govern the organisation for quality and assurance 2.1 Implement an assurance framework.
2.2 Design and implement an enterprise performance and reporting framework.
2.3 Evolve an organisational structure that supports the agency directions. 1. Assurance framework is implemented.
2. An enterprise performance and reporting framework is implemented.
3. High level of confidence in accuracy of the electoral roll.
Professionalise the workforce 3.1 Develop and implement a workforce planning strategy.
3.2 Educate all staff on roles and principles.
3.3 Recruit and train the temporary election workforce on election-related processes.
3.4 Build the management capability of the Executive Level cohort. 1. An election workforce planning strategy is implemented.
2. The election workforce is ‘match fit’ before the anticipated 2016 election.
3. Management capability of key cohorts addressed in development plans and delivered with 90 per cent participating in courses where appropriate.
Re-establish the reputation of the AEC 4.1 Engage decision makers and opinion shapers in constructive conversations to shape expectations.
4.2 Entrench a culture of quality, professionalism and agility to support electoral integrity. 1. Productive relationship is maintained with the Minister, Parliament, key agencies and other stakeholders.
2. High quality services delivered with effective management of issues in line with relevant legislation and agreements.
3. Information is timely and accurate, uses appropriate technology and channels, and meets accessibility standards.
Build an agile and responsive organisation 5.1 Establish capacity to scan the horizon and scan for good practice.
5.2 Develop options and capabilities post-2016.
5.3 Implement post-2016 reform agenda. 1. Develop and establish an efficient election evaluation model.
2. Create an environment to encourage innovative practices to support the AEC and the conduct of electoral events.
Regulator performance framework
The Australian Government has committed to reducing the cost of unnecessary or inefficient regulation imposed on individuals, business and community organisations and has developed a framework to measure the performance of regulators. As a regulatory body, the AEC aims to reduce the regulatory burden imposed on electors through enrolment and voting activities.
The AEC will measure itself against the six mandatory key performance indicators, consistent with the AEC’s obligations under the regulator performance framework.
Mandatory key performance indicators Measures of success
Regulators do not unnecessarily impede the efficient operation of regulated entities. High quality services delivered to clients with effective management of issues in line with the legislation and agreements.
Communication with regulated entities is clear, targeted and effective. Information is timely and accurate, uses appropriate technology and channels, and meets accessibility standards.
Actions undertaken by regulators are proportionate to the regulatory risk being managed. Maintain ability to conduct a federal electoral event within the timeframe determined by the Electoral Commissioner.
Compliance and monitoring approaches are streamlined and coordinated. An enterprise performance and reporting framework is implemented.
Regulators are open and transparent in their dealings with regulated entities. Productive relationship is maintained with the Minister, Parliament, key agencies and other stakeholders.
Regulators actively contribute to the continuous improvement of regulatory frameworks. An efficient election evaluation model is implemented.
Create an environment to encourage innovative practices to support the AEC and the conduct of electoral events.
Our priority activities for 2015–16
Over the next 12 months the AEC will work to deliver the following activities in alignment with the agency directions.
Agency direction Activity Activity deliverable
Deliver a changed model for elections and referendums Implementation of the election readiness framework and tools to allow the AEC to prepare for electoral events seamlessly and comprehensively. The election readiness framework supports orderly preparation for elections and provides assurance to the Electoral Commissioner that the entire agency is at a level of readiness to conduct a successful electoral event. The 2016 election ready road map (ERRM) is the AEC’s central election readiness planning document.
Implement the electoral reform program. Before the 2016 federal election, reforms in the following areas will be implemented: logistics and materials management, contract management, ballot paper security, compliance with established processes and procedures, and culture.
Development of an election workforce plan. The election workforce plan will assist in prioritising and allocating resources to ensure the workforce is ‘match fit’ prior to the next election.
Govern the organisation for quality and assurance Implementation of a new planning, performance and reporting framework. Implement a framework to support staff involved in planning, delivering outcomes, managing resources and finances. This is integral to the structures, processes, controls and behaviours that support sections of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.
Implementation of an assurance framework. Implement a documented model that sets out the ways the Executive Leadership Team will gain assurance that the agency is operating efficiently, effectively and achieving its outcomes.
Enhance the risk management framework. Refresh the current risk management framework to further embed the practice into the AEC’s business processes and increase the positive risk culture within the agency.
Enhancements to assist in maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the electoral roll. Implement a range of program measures based on the Electoral Integrity Framework to improve roll completeness and accuracy, reduce roll divergence, streamline workload and workflow, assist the workforce, and monitor roll integrity.
Professionalise the workforce Core skills and capability training for APS employees. Becoming a learning organisation to support cultural change and to attract, retain and develop a more professional and agile workforce.
New model for training the election workforce. Deliver a ‘match fit’ election workforce that is capable and ready to undertake assigned roles during the conduct of an electoral event.
Alignment of organisational culture with the values of quality, agility and professionalism to support electoral integrity. Continue to embed the AEC values within the organisational culture, which will include applying them to every task.
Re-establish the reputation of the AEC Deliver external facing services to a standard deemed acceptable by stakeholders. Successfully deliver services such as management of the electoral roll, party registration and financial disclosure, and the conduct of electoral events.
A refresh of public education and awareness including a Democracy Rules update. Modernise the delivery of the electoral education resources kit to meet accessibility standards and modern education methods.
Build an agile and responsive organisation Development of innovative solutions to enhance the electoral process. Develop and enhance current systems to support the electoral reform program and 2016 federal election readiness and delivery.
Progress the implementation of the Information Technology (IT) Strategic Plan. Critical to enabling new capability, the IT Strategic Plan supports key business initiatives and program development; delivering efficient administration of the AEC through technology-optimised processes and ensuring the meeting of commitments to key stakeholders.
An organisational structure that supports the agency directions. A fit for purpose structure that provides the required corporate governance and oversight whilst enabling the efficient and effective delivery of electoral events.
Capability
Resources and allocation
Resources, particularly financial resources, are allocated based on alignment with the agency directions and strategies, the risk to the agency and executive priorities. This information is collected through business planning and project management processes prior to the commencement of the new financial year. Progress against key performance indicators is measured and monitored regularly through the AEC’s reporting structure, to ensure priorities are met in the timeframes indicated and within budget.
The AEC’s legislative deliverables are managed through four programs:
Electoral Roll Management
Provide Australian voters with access to their entitlement to vote through maintaining an accurate electoral roll.
Elections
Access to an impartial and independent electoral system.
Education and Communication
Informed Australians through the provision of communication, education and public awareness activities.
Industrial and Commercial Elections
Conduct of industrial and commercial elections in accordance with applicable legislation.
Information Technology Strategic Plan
The Information Technology Strategic Plan 2015-2020 (the IT Strategic Plan) describes the AEC’s desired information technology vision to 2020. It is supported by the IT Architecture Plan.
The IT Strategic Plan identifies internal and external environmental factors that may impact on the AEC’s use of information technology, including whole-of-government initiatives and the work of agencies such as the Digital Transformation Office (DTO). The IT Architecture Plan outlines the principles that will drive decision making and investment in information technology.
The IT Strategic Plan’s objectives are derived from the AEC’s five agency directions. The objectives are:
1. improve election logistics
2. improve election transparency
3. improve stakeholder experience
4. be ready
5. reduce risk
6. improve election staff effectiveness, and
7. maintain capability.
Learning and development and workforce planning
The AEC is in the process of developing and implementing an integrated approach to recruitment, learning and development, performance management and workforce planning activities. This work will build capability in a systemic and sustainable way as part of election readiness in the lead up to the anticipated 2016 and 2019 federal elections.
In this time of change the right workforce management approach will enable the AEC to:
• develop a complete workforce planning picture that caters for both the APS and the temporary election workforces for future electoral events
• attract, retain and develop a more agile workforce with greater diversity, reflective of the local demographic and a skillset aligned with identified capabilities
• develop a culture that supports greater levels of employee engagement, performance and professionalism
• change the workplace composition as we move away from using large numbers of intermittent and irregular employees outside of the election period and look to partner with specialist providers and build a professional workforce
• embed standards of behaviour and work practices that align with the AEC’s values and ballot paper principles
• improve consistency of practice in operational roles and build levels of compliance, quality and integrity across operational activities, and
• develop a culture that no longer accepts that workplace, health and safety issues such as fatigue or poor performance and misconduct are an inevitable consequence of working during an electoral event.
Risk oversight and management
The objective of implementing and undertaking a rigorous, systematic and consistent approach to risk management in the AEC is not to eliminate risk, but rather manage risks inevitably involved in many AEC activities and to maximise opportunities to improve electoral services.
Risk assessments will be incorporated into all critical activities of the agency. Having consistent and universal application of formal risk management processes will increase the likelihood of the AEC meeting its objectives and outcomes.
The AEC’s approach to risk management will:
• ensure that the AEC’s business is managed in a responsible manner
• ensure that significant risks faced by the AEC in our electoral operations and in the broader political and governmental environment are understood and appropriate mitigation action is in place
• increase the likelihood of meeting key performance indicators and delivering services to the standards expected by stakeholders
• safeguard the AEC’s people, information, property and public monies
• create an environment in which all AEC employees assume responsibility for the proactive identification and mitigation of risk
• facilitate the AEC’s compliance with relevant legal and regulatory requirements
• ensure the adoption of evidence based reliable decision making processes and planning using risk management approaches
• ensure there is a shared, agency-wide approach to risk management
• improve operational effectiveness and efficiency, including the use of resources, and
• improve the governance of the AEC’s management of risk.
MARTYN IN RETROSPECT ALL NZ ELECTORAL COMMISSION OFFERED WAS PRIVATELY FUNDED SO CALLED “SATISFACTION SURVEY’S” not work the paper they are written on! (not even recent)(TWO) WHICH WE REGARD AS THE USUAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY SPIN. (Possibly MBIE Generated for SS Joyce – Propaganda Minister)
WHERE ARE THE WORDS FROM OUR NZ ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER ROBERT PEDEM? NEVER SEEN ANY PUBLIC STATEMENTS FROM HIM AS Australia HAS SO WHERE IS THE TRANSPERANCY HERE AS THEY ARE MEANT TO PROVIDE UNDER THE ECANZ RULES & DOCTINE???
http://www.transparency.org.nz/docs/2013/Integrity-Plus-2013-New-Zealand-National-Integrity-System-Assessment.pdf
CHANGES MUST COME INSIDE THIS SECRETIVE ORGANISATION BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTION!
People rightly need to fear govt bodies giving or even selling your info.
I recently after many attempts finally got help from winz only to have Baycorp chasing me the next day after an absence of several years.
i complained to Winz at Westgate in west Auckland. Immediately Baycorp stopped there usual harasments and Winz stopped with the usual corrupt delay tactics. So yeah voting puts you on lists you dont want be on.
Also whats the point nothing changes no matter whos in the bosses chair. They are all corrupt as fuck from the top to the lowest govt office worker.!!
Have we given voting rights back to prisoners yet?
And, if we have, can we take all possible precautions to ensure they keep this right – like ensuring they a place to call home that’s affordable, when they’ve completed their sentences?
Or don’t we want them back, despite having ‘done the time’?
PS – Everyone’s details need to be kept private and some more private than most. The census is bad enough: the electoral roll is ridiculous.
Yep, while all Kiwis are completely searchable by the electoral roll, if you are a rich tax dodger you can just be completely anonymous on John Key’s pet project 0% off shore tax fund. And it will take years apparently for him to do something about it, and does not look like they are making that transparent.
Hmm, so you seem to have more rights of privacy if you are actually non resident and claiming NZ tax status to dodge tax elsewhere.
Kiwi’s details should be private on the electoral roll, and non residents details should be available to the public in my view if they are using NZ tax havens!! It’s the wrong way around as usual.
Yep, while all Kiwis are completely searchable by the electoral roll, if you are a rich tax dodger you can just be completely anonymous on John Key’s pet project 0% off shore tax fund. And it will take years apparently for him to do something about it, and does not look like they are making that transparent.
Hmm, so you seem to have more rights of privacy if you are actually non resident and claiming NZ tax status to dodge tax elsewhere.
Kiwi’s details should be private on the electoral roll, and non residents details should be available to the public in my view if they are using NZ tax havens!! It’s the wrong way around as usual.
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