SA Senator Stirling Griff considers inquiry on government’s voter ID laws

Scott Morrison’s been called a “try-hard Trump” over his voter ID legislation by one SA Senator as another makes it unlikely it will pass this year.

The federal government’s controversial voter identification laws are unlikely to pass this year, as key South Australian Senator Stirling Griff considers referring the bill to an inquiry.

Both Labor and the Greens are opposed to the voter ID laws, meaning the fate of the bill lies with Senator Griff and Senator Jacqui Lambie.

If passed, voters would be required to present formal ID, such as a driver’s licence or passport, instead of just providing their name and address at the polling booth.

Though he supports the idea “in principle”, Senator Griff has raised concerns about a number of issues, mainly around how it would affect Indigenous Australians in the APY Lands and Northern Territory.

Senator Griff said those areas had “extremely low” enrolment levels due to limited Australian Electoral Commission staff.

The fate of the proposed laws lie with senators Stirling Griff (centre) and Jacqui Lambie (left). SA Senator Rex Patrick (right) said he would support an inquiry into the bill.

“There’s also an issue talking to Aboriginal groups that some polling booths are open for one or two hours on (election) day, which is causing difficulties,” Senator Griff said.

“The time many Aboriginals enrol is actually on polling day, because for them that is the only opportunity they have to have an AEC officer in front of them, which means that on the day they can’t vote, but they can vote in three years’ time.”

Senator Griff said, “if need be”, he would refer the laws to a Senate inquiry so it could consider submissions from the wider community, making it unlikely for the bill to be passed this year.

Helen Connolly, South Australia’s Commissioner for Children & Young People, wrote to all federal SA MPs urging them to implement rigorous “checks and balance” to ensure young people weren't affected.

“Young people come to voting age at a time when their lives tend to be highly transient and unstable, which makes the process of registering to vote complicated,” Ms Connolly wrote.

She said “years of inadequate civics education” meant young people don’t properly understand the electoral system” and ID checks would create an “additional barrier” to voting.

SA Commissioner for Children and Young People Helen Connolly

Labor senator Don Farrell backed Ms Connolly’s calls, while slamming Prime Minister Scott Morrison for using “highly dangerous” political tactics.

SA Labor senator Don Farrell accused Prime Minister Scott Morrison of being a “try-hard Trump”.

“He’s copying dangerous and highly controversial political tactics used in the USA to suppress the vote by making it harder for some people to exercise their democratic right,” Senator Farrell said.

Finance Minister and SA senator Simon Birmingham previously said these measures were “commonplace” in Europe, Canada and other parts of the world.

“This is a measure that can increase people’s confidence in the integrity of the electoral system,” he said.

Independent SA senator Rex Patrick is strongly opposed to the legislation, but said he would support an inquiry.

The federal government’s legislative agenda is being further frustrated by SA Liberal senator Alex Antic, who is refusing to vote on everything until “Australians are provided with stronger protection from vaccine discrimination”.

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Originally published as SA Senator Stirling Griff considers inquiry on government’s voter ID laws