Election 2022: Military drafted to plug gaps in SA’s biggest electorates

With just one day of work, you could earn yourself up to $1000 this weekend. But you need to act fast – here’s why.

The Australian Electoral Commission is still looking for people to fill polling booths across SA just one day out from the election.

Tens of thousands of country voters face having to drive long distances to vote because of a massive reduction in statewide polling stations as troops and public servants are drafted in.

Polling places where staff numbers are currently of concern include Coonawarra, Jervois, Arno Bay, Georgetown and Wirrulla.

Recruits can earn between $500 and $1000 a day depending on their role, and usual approval rules have been waived.

The state government has pleaded with public servants to help plug the gaps, while the Australian Defence Force has issued an alert to all forces personnel in SA, Queensland and WA to help on election day.

Voters cast their ballots Picture: Brendan Radke

Multiple other towns in the Far North and Eyre Peninsula were also facing closing. Similar issues were reported in four Queensland and two WA electorates.

Senior state government sources questioned how such a problem was being felt given the AEC “only had the last two years to prepare for an election”.

In a leaked government-wide memo, the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment Erma Ranieri blamed the pandemic and regional shortages.

“Covid-19 and a tight labour market has meant the AEC is experiencing an unprecedented shortfall in workers required to support our country’s democratic process,” she said.

“If this situation is not urgently resolved, the AEC may be forced to close some polling booths throughout the state.

“The AEC will pay for your services, and I am temporarily waiving the requirement for public sector employees to seek approval for this additional role.”

She called for vaccinated helpers, who will required to wear a mask, to be available between 7am and 11pm on Saturday.

Australia’s Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers warned residents in regional towns who have not yet voted at pre-poll booths or lodged a postal vote “may not have a polling venue in their town on election day”.

“Current labour shortages in regional areas have been well documented,” he said.

“No frontline service has been immune to resourcing difficulties and we’re running the nation’s biggest in-person, manual event.

“Short of handing out blank cheques for work, or accommodating thousands of single-day workers in interstate locations, there is not much more we could have done so far.

“We’re calling on other organisations to assist as a final push, and investigating all possible staffing models including amalgamating venues.”

He said the commission had warned this problem.

“Recruitment difficulty is exactly what we advised could occur, both earlier in the pandemic and in the early stages of the election period, and why we’ve been urging people to assess all voting options.”

For more information about working at the election, go to the Australian Electoral Commission site.

Originally published as Election 2022: Military drafted to plug gaps in SA’s biggest electorates