The Joint Select Committee on Electoral Reform was established by a resolution of the House of Representatives on 4 May 1983 and of the Senate on 11 May 1983.  The motion was presented by the Hon M J Young, MP in the House of Representatives and Senator J N Button in the Senate. The Committee was formed to inquire into and report on all aspects of the conduct of elections for the Parliament of the Commonwealth.  Included in the terms of reference as matters for consideration were:
 
 a) public funding and disclosure of funds;
 b) franchise and registration of voters;
 c) voting systems;
 d) polling procedures;
 e) legislation governing, and the operation of, the Australian   
    Electoral Office;
 f) ballot paper format; and
 g) electoral distribution, procedures and systems.
 
The Committee's first report of 13 September 1983, which contained about 200 recommendations, resulted in amendments to Commonwealth Electoral Legislation.  Reforms included changes to electoral laws and redistribution procedures, the introduction of public funding for election campaigns and establishment of the Australian Electoral Commission.
 
The report also recommended that the life of the Committee be extended and that it be able to report from time to time on matters within its original terms of reference.  The Committee's resolution of appointment was amended to this effect by the House of Representatives on 7 September 1983 and by the Senate on 8 September 1983.
 
A second report which mainly concerned standards governing political advertising and statutory provisions on election broadcasting, was presented by Dr R E Klugman, MP, on 24 August 1984.
 
In March 1985 the Committee was reappointed in the 34th Parliament. Included as matters for consideration in the terms of reference for this Committee were:
 
   "i) legislation governing, and the operation of, the Australian
       Electoral Commission
   ii) the provision of 'free' radio time for political messages
       during election periods.
  iii) the provision of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
       concerning the declaration of candidate donations
   iv) tax deductability of political donations
    v) the establishment of fixed formulae of determining the number
       of Senators and Members of the House of Representative to
       which the Australian Capital Territory and other territories
       are entitled."  

Provision was also made in November 1985 for either House of the Parliament refer matters concerning Australian electoral laws and practices to the Committee for enquiry.  On 17 February 1986 the Hon M J R Mackellar, MP presented a report which dealt with representation of the Territories and new states in the Commonwealth Parliament.
 
Originally the Committee consisted on 9 members - 4 Senators and 5 Members of the the House of Representatives.  When the Committee was reappointed in th 34th Parliament, this number was expanded to 11 comprised of 5 Senators and 6 Members of the House of Representatives Membership of the Committee was as follows:
 
33rd Parliament (1983-1984)
 
Chairman:         Dr R E  Klugman, MP
Deputy Chairman:  Mr R S  Hall, MP
Members:          Senator the Hon Sir John Carrick, KCMG             
                  Senator M J  Macklin
                  Senator R F  Ray
                  Senator G R  Richardson
                  Mr A G  Griffiths, MP
                  The Hon R J D  Hunt, MP (resigned 26 April 1984)
                  The Hon I L  Robinson, MP (replaced the Hon R J D 
                   Hunt, MP)
                  Mr J L  Scott, MP
Secretary:        I C  Harris (1983)
                  M E  Aldons (1984)
 
34th Parliament (1985- )
 
Chairman:         Senator R F Ray
Deputy Chairman:  The Hon M R J Mackellar, MP
Members:          Senator the Hon Sir John Carrick, KCMG             
                  Senator B Harradine
                  Senator M J Macklin
                  Senator G F Richardson
                  Mr C W Blunt, MP
                  Mrs C A Jakobsen, MP
                  Mr A H Lamb, MP
                  Mr M J Lee, MP
Secretary:        D W Nairn
 
The Committee was replaced by the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters (CA 6963) which commenced on 21 October 1987.  Further research is required to determine when the Joint Select Committee completed its final report and ceased activities.
 

References
 
1. House of Representatives Weekly Hansard, No 1, 1983, 21 April,   
   3-5 May 1983, pp 204-209
2. Senate Weekly Hansard, No 2, 1983, 10-12 May 1983, pp 366-371 
3. House of Representatives Daily Hansard, 24 August 1984,
   pp 347-351
4. House of Representatives Daily Hansard, 17 February 1986,
   pp 660-662
5. Department of the House of Representatives, Annual Report, 1983
   -84, pp 22, 30
6. Department of the House of Representatives, Annual Report, 1984
   -85, pp 32, 33, 37
7. Department of the House of Representatives, Annual Report, 1985-
   86, pp 17, 18, 39
8. Joint Select Committee on Electoral Reform, Second Report, 1984 
9. "Determining the Entitlement of Federal Territories and New   
   States to Representation in the Commonwealth Parliament", A Report
   from the Joint Select Committee on Electoral Reform, 1985
Historical agency address
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