Media Release: Call for Public Consultation Extension for Disability Voting Access Reforms
Call for Public Consultation Extension for Disability Voting Access Reforms
The government is under pressure to extend the public consultation on draft legislation, the Justice and Related Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill (No. 3) 2024, which seeks to provide suitable voting alternatives for Tasmanians with a disability, with stakeholders shocked at the minimal two week period provided.
“Disability advocates have campaigned for many years seeking action on their concerns over inaccessible voting options during Tasmanian elections,” Ms Webb said.
“While the draft Bill is welcome acknowledgment of these concerns, the brief and rushed public consultation period of a mere two weeks is disappointing and unacceptable.
“It is also extremely disappointing the government failed to include key disability advocates and ensure the proposed voting reforms were co-designed with end users and affected stakeholders in accordance with recognised best practice.
“This is a bizarre missed opportunity by the government to demonstrate inclusion and respect for lived experience in the development of legislative reforms aiming to improve voting inclusion.
“It is also incumbent upon government to ensure the consultation draft Bill is provided in a visually impaired sensitive and accessible format. It beggars belief that a Bill intended to address concerns over voting accessibility for the visually impaired, amongst others, is provided solely in the standard viewing format.”
Ms Webb has written to both the Attorney General, Guy Barnett MP, and the Minister for Disability Services, Jo Palmer MLC, requesting the public consultation period be extended to at least six weeks to ensure disability advocate organisations have sufficient time to access, consider, and consult the proposed reforms with their members to assist informing any feedback.
“Why the rush? There are other draft Bills open for consultation for periods of up to 12 weeks.
“Unless the Attorney-General knows something the rest of us do not, we should be able to provide a proper six week consultation period and still have the proposed voting accessibility reforms considered, passed by parliament, and implemented before the next Tasmanian elections, which are the Legislative Council poll of May 2024,” Ms Webb said.
View Ms Webb’s correspondence to the Attorney General and Minister for Disability Services calling for an extension to the public consultiaton period for this draft Bill, below or here:
