Overview of the AEC

Organisational structure

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is responsible for conducting federal elections and referendums and maintaining the Commonwealth electoral roll. The AEC also provides a range of electoral information and education programs and activities. Further responsibilities of the AEC can be found under the role and functions of the AEC.

The AEC's structure is shown in the AEC Organisation Chart [PDF 78KB].

The AEC is managed by a three-person Australian Electoral Commission (Commission). The Commission is headed by a Chairperson, who must be an active or retired judge of the Federal Court of Australia, the Electoral Commissioner, and a non-judicial member.

At 30 June 2010, the Commission consisted of:

• The Hon. Peter Heerey AM QC, the Chairperson
• Mr Ed Killesteyn, the Electoral Commissioner
• Mr Brian Pink (the Australian Statistician), the part-time, non-judicial member

Assisting the Electoral Commissioner in the national office are the Deputy Electoral Commissioner, two First Assistant Commissioners, six Assistant Commissioners, the Chief Finance Officer and the Chief Legal Officer. State managers, who hold the statutory appointment of Australian Electoral Officer (AEO) for each state and the Northern Territory, also assist the Electoral Commissioner in managing electoral activities within their State or Territory. Three Assistant Commissioners and two state managers have the added responsibility of being national program managers. The ACT is managed by the NSW state manager, except during election periods when an ACT AEO is appointed.

The AEC has a National Office in Canberra, a State Office in each State capital and a Northern Territory office in Darwin. Each State is divided into Electoral Divisions. Divisional Returning Officers (DROs) are responsible for electoral administration within a division, in particular, preparations for the next electoral event.

Statutory appointments under the Commonwealth Electoral Act (1918)

Name	Position	Term	Legislative provision for existence of role
Ed Killesteyn	Electoral Commissioner	5 years from 05/01/2009 Further 5 years from 04/01/2014	Subsection 18(1) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
Tom Rogers	Deputy Electoral Commissioner	5 years from 01/01/2012	Subsection 19(1) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
Doug Orr	Australian Electoral Officer NSW	5 years from 01/03/2010	Subsection 20(1) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
Robert Pugsley	Australian Electoral Officer NT	5 years from 23/03/2011	Subsection 20(1) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
Anne Bright	Australian Electoral Officer QLD	5 years from 16/08/2012	Subsection 20(1) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
Claire Witham	Australian Electoral Officer SA	5 years from 30/06/2011	Subsection 20(1) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
Sandra Riordan	Australian Electoral Officer TAS	5 years from 23/03/2011	Subsection 20(1) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
Jeff Pope	Australian Electoral Officer VIC	5 years from 01/08/2013	Subsection 20(1) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
Peter Kramer	Australian Electoral Officer WA	5 years from 04/01/2010	Subsection 20(1) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
Peter Heerey	AEC Chairperson	5 years from 23/07/2009	Subsection 6(2)(a) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918

The AEC also has Divisional Office Managers appointed under S22 of the Public Service Act 1999, who perform the functions of Divisional Returning Officer under Subsection 32(1) Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918.

The rules for federal elections are contained in the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918. Rules for referendums are contained in the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984.

The Special Minister of State is the Minister responsible for electoral matters.

Areas of the AEC and a summary of their activities

• Parliamentary elections
• Industrial Elections
• Fee For Service elections
• International electoral services
• Party registration / funding and disclosure
• Roll products and services
• Enrolment
• AEC media
• Education products and services
• Research
• Library

Role and function of the AEC

The role of the AEC is –

to deliver the franchise: that is, an Australian citizen's right to vote, as established by the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918.

What we do

The AEC implements the Parliament's directives on electoral policy as embodied in the legislation. As outlined in the 2010–11 Portfolio Budget Statements, the AEC has one primary outcome for which we are funded, namely:

1. 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.

It does this through three programs:

Program 1.1: Electoral Roll Management

Program Objective – Voter entitlement for Australians and support for electoral events and redistributions through maintaining an accurate and up-to-date electoral roll.

Program 1.2: Election Management and Support Services

Program Objective – Access to an impartial and independent electoral system for Australians through the provision of election services.

Program 1.3: Education and Communication

Program Objective – Informed Australians through the provision of information services on electoral matters.

The AEC has seven core business functions. This means we:

• manage the Commonwealth electoral roll
• conduct elections, referendums, including industrial and fee-for-service elections and protected action ballots
• educate and inform the community about electoral rights and responsibilities
• provide research, advice and assistance on electoral matters to the Parliament, other government agencies and recognised bodies
• provide assistance in overseas elections and referendums in support of wider government initiatives
• administer election funding, financial disclosure and party registration requirements
• support electoral redistributions.

ABN

The AEC's ABN is 21 133 285 851