Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann is encouraging community members to have their say on the conduct of the 2025 federal election, as the Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters begins its review.
The Committee is examining how the 2025 election was run, including safety at polling places, access to voting, the operation of campaign rules, and other key issues, with public submissions now open.
Mr Neumann, who is a member of the Committee and will sit on the review, said that hearing from local voters and volunteers would ensure the community’s experiences were reflected in the national review.
“The 2025 election was unlike many we’ve experienced before,” Mr Neumann said.
“I want to make sure the stories of our volunteers and voters in Blair are part of this review.
“Whether it’s about your experience at a polling booth, how easy it was to vote, or the way campaigns were conducted, your story can help shape improvements for future elections.”
Committee Chair and Federal Member for Bennelong Jerome Laxale encouraged residents in Blair to have their say.
“The inquiry plays an important role in ensuring the Australian public have their say in how their elections are run,” he said.
“We have one of the oldest and most respected democracies on earth. Keeping that standard requires ongoing scrutiny. Matters widely reported during the 2025 election raise serious questions about safety, security and voter experience.
“Voters, volunteers and officials should never feel intimidated, harassed or have such an experience that they are discouraged from participating at future elections.”
More information, including on how to make a submission, can be found at the JSCEM inquiry webpage: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Electoral_Matters/2025federalelection
Background
The Terms of Reference for the Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters (JSCEM) 2025 federal election inquiry include the following emerging issues:
• assessment and review of the purported increase in incidents of aggressive conduct, deliberate obstruction, and intimidating behaviour towards voters, political participants, volunteers, and Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) officials;
• potential reform of safety and security arrangements, including consideration of
the powers, processes, and capacity of the AEC to manage and address increasingly threatening or disruptive behaviour;
• reforms to address the ongoing threats of interference in our electoral system, both foreign and domestic; and
• the composition of the parliament as a whole; including the length of the parliamentary term, the potential for fixed terms, and the number of elected representatives relative to the growth in population and the electorate.
The full Terms of Reference are available on the inquiry webpage:
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Electoral_Matters
/2025federalelection
Submissions addressing any or all of the Terms of Reference are now invited, prior to JSCEM commencing public hearings in mid-October.The program for public hearings will be announced as the inquiry progresses.
