Voice to Parliament referendum: AEC looking for 100,000 staff to work on October 14

Looking to make some easy money? There’s a simple way to be part of the referendum and put some extra cash in your pocket.

PM Anthony Albanese has revealed the date Australians will vote. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Sam Ruttyn

Need some easy extra cash to pay off a bill, beef up that Christmas fund, or better still, treat yourself to something nice?

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is looking for up to 100,000 temporary staff across Australia to work on the Voice to Parliament Referendum day, on October 14.

AEC Commissioner Tom Rogers said the work would be paid and while most of the positions were for just one day’s work, some would span a few weeks.

And while staff were needed across the country, the need was particularly acute in regional and remote areas where workers were hard to find, Mr Rogers said.

Workers were also needed to work in mobile polling teams, which helped take voting services to places where people might not be able to get to a polling place, such as remote communities, prisons and aged care homes.

The hourly rate on offer is between $29 and $34.29 (including a casual loading), depending on the position, the amount of training required, and the number of hours worked - either before polling day,, on polling day or both.

A Polling Place Liaison Officer, for example, could earn over $1000 for working on the referendum, including the maximum seven hours of training provided.

“It’s paid work – a boost to help pay the bills, plan something nice or even get ready for Christmas,” Mr Rogers said.

“This will be a unique opportunity to work at the first federal referendum this century and add a pretty rare experience to your resume,” he said.

Mr Rogers said staff needed to be “publicly neutral” on political issues, which meant they couldn’t express their opinions or take any actions to support the ‘yes’ or ‘no’ case.

The table below shows the areas most in need of workers.

Anyone interested in a job on referendum day should visit the AEC website or call 02) 62714631.

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Here are some other things you need to know about the Voice to Parliament Referendum

AUSTRALIANS TO GO TO THE POLLS ON OCTOBER 14

The date for the referendum has been confirmed as Saturday, October 14.

One question will be put to Australian citizens on a Saturday where voters will be asked to go back to the polling booths, just like they did during the federal election.

Once at the booth Australians will have to answer this question with ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.

“A proposed law: to alter the constitution to recognise the first peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice, do you approve of this proposed alteration?”

Here are some frequently asked questions we can answer for you:

Do I have to vote in a referendum?

Any Australian citizen who is 18 years or over and enrolled to vote, must vote in the referendum.

What is the wording of the Voice to Parliament referendum?

“A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?”.

Voters will be asked to answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.

When will we vote on the Voice to Parliament?

Saturday, October 14.

What is the Voice to Parliament?

The Voice to Parliament is asking for a change in the Constitution to “recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice,” according to the National Indigenous Australians Agency.

The body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, “may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples”.

And: “The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.”

Originally published as Voice to Parliament referendum: AEC looking for 100,000 staff to work on October 14