MP protest over voting bill fails to convince Premier to recall SA parliament

Dozens of MPs gathered at state parliament this morning in a bid to convince the Premier to recall the lower house to pass voting legislation – but he did not relent.

A protest by dozens of MPs at state parliament on Wednesday morning has failed to convince Premier Steven Marshall to recall the lower house to pass state election legislation.

A majority of lower house MPs – 25 of them – gathered in the chamber to put pressure on Mr Marshall to allow the house to sit this week in order to pass a state election voting bill.

Opposition and independent MPs filed into the chamber at about 10.30am and took their seats.

Speaker Dan Cregan opened the unofficial sitting before asking if anyone had anything they wished to say.

While all seats on the government’s side of the house remained empty, Labor Leader Peter Malinauskas made an impassioned speech about the importance of passing the bill.

“I will walk on hot coals to preserve the right to vote,” he said.

By 10.50am, the informal sitting was adjourned.

The bill, which has already been passed by the upper house, would permit people isolating due to Covid-19 to vote via the phone at the March election.

Premier Steven Marshall talks to speaker Dan Cregan during Parliament question time. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Brenton Edwards

However, Mr Marshall, who on Tuesday said there would not be enough time to implement phone voting even the bill were passed, stood firm on not recalling the house.

Mr Marshall also said the Covid-Ready Committee was considering a range of options to allow isolating South Australians to vote, with a solution expected to be announced “in the coming days”.

A drive-thru polling booth is under consideration.

Concerns were raised last week that thousands of people may not be able to exercise their right to vote on polling day due to Covid isolation rules.

It prompted calls for parliament to be urgently recalled to resolve the issue.

Speaker Dan Cregan wrote to Mr Marshall on Monday, urging him to bring parliament back, saying Covid rules “may disenfranchise many South Australians”.

Speaker Dan Cregan and Labor Leader Peter Malinauskas. Picture: Keryn Stevens

M Malinauskas on Tuesday said “nothing is more sacrosanct in our democracy than every last eligible Australian having the ability to vote, to have a say on the future of their country, of their state”.

Outside parliament, following the sitting, Mr Malinauskas said the event was “yet another missed opportunity for the Marshall Liberal Government to do the right thing by the people of our state”.

Independent MP Geoff Brock described the no-show by the Liberals as “a cop-out”.

“I think it’s snubbing the people of South Australia,” he said.

“All we had to do was bring parliament back for one day… we could have passed this bill.”

Mr Cregan said he was “worried that very close contests in different seats may end up in the Court of Disputed Returns” if isolating people were unable to vote.

However, Treasurer Rob Lucas called this morning’s informal sitting a “massive political stunt” by “Pete Pantomime with his puppets behind him”.

Mr Lucas said the Electoral Commissioner had made it clear that even if the bill was passed this week, the commission couldn’t implement phone voting before the election.

He also said additional funding or resources would be provided to the commission should it be required to ensure people could vote.

“The government is interested in ensuring those who want to vote and are able to vote can vote,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission of SA says it is “confident we can deliver a Covid-safe election for voters”.

“We are finalising a number of COVID-safe polling options, and we will advise the public of these as soon as they are confirmed with relevant authorities,” the commission said in a statement.

“Our message...to the South Australian public is to check your enrolment details are up to date or if you have turned 18 in the last four years, or you are a new Australian citizen, ensure you enrol to vote before February 25th.”

The commission is expected a significant increase in the number of postal votes this election due to increased eligibility.