The NSW Government's ongoing failure to fund technology assisted voting erodes the democratic rights of people with disability

Today in Budget Estimates, the Electoral Commission confirmed NSW Labor's decision to deny funding for technology assisted voting, further increasing barriers for people with disability and their independent participation in democracy.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: Dr Phillips, I was going to come to you anyway to ask you how wonderfully the project for technology-assisted voting was going, assuming that you had been funded. So it comes as a huge surprise, after sitting here for the last however many years—four years—of the previous Coalition Government failing to fund it, to now find out that the Labor Government has also failed to fund it. You'll probably recall I've been asking about this because it's yet another one of those issues that really disproportionately impacts on people with disability. I'm a bit astounded. If we were to get the money now—say, there was to be a turnaround—would it be in time in order to provide online voting in 2027?

MATTHEW PHILLIPS (Acting NSW Electoral Commissioner): No, we don't think so at this time for a number of reasons, one of which is the market has changed... So there are market conditions. And, two, it takes time to roll that out. Also, we made a commitment to the blind and low-vision community in particular that we would work with them on this technology; we would co-design this thing with them to ensure they got out of it what they are seeking. They are the key group that arose from my predecessor's review into technology-assisted voting. There was going to be a very narrowly defined offering for SG27, blind and low-vision electors. It takes time to test, implement and design. Given the market conditions, given the time and, most importantly, the fact that we have zero budget, it is impossible to deliver an internet solution for the State general election in 2027. I am happy to stand corrected by my officers, but even if we were to be given money today, I do not believe that we could deliver a solution for the State general election in 2027.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: When was the first time you asked for this money from the Labor Government?

MATTHEW PHILLIPS: In the 2024-25 budget, so in the recent budget round. A submission would have gone in roughly in February.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: So if you had had the money in the budget when it came out in June then you could have done this by 2027?

MATTHEW PHILLIPS: Yes... I still think it would have been difficult, but we could have done it, based on the advice at the time. But that's the position we are in. We always maintained that it was a policy decision for government. We gave them an option throughout the budget process. Decisions have been made, due to the tight fiscal environment, not to fund that particular initiative.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: I am keeping a tally of all the ways the Labor Government has failed people with disability, so I will add this one to it.

28 August 2024

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The NSW Government's ongoing failure to fund technology assisted voting erodes the democratic rights of people with disability

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