The members of the ACT Electoral Commission officially became officers of the ACT Legislative Assembly on 1 July 2014, the ACT Electoral Commissioner Phillip Green said today.

“The Electoral Commission members join the ACT Auditor-General and the ACT Ombudsman as officers of the Legislative Assembly under amendments made by the Officers of the Assembly Legislation Amendment Act 2013, passed by the Assembly in October 2013 and commencing today,” Mr Green said.

As officers of the Assembly, the Electoral Commission will report directly to the Speaker, who will be responsible for presenting the Commission’s reports and budget to the Assembly.

“While the Electoral Commission has always exercised independent statutory functions, the amendments made to the ACT’s Electoral Act 1992 that commence today state explicitly for the first time that the members of the Electoral Commission will have complete discretion in the exercise of their functions,” Mr Green said.

From 1 July 2014, the ACT Electoral Commissioner will be directly allocated a budget and given all the powers and responsibilities of a director-general under the Financial Management Act 1996. Previously, the Commission was funded within the Justice and Community Safety portfolio and reported to the Attorney General.