2016
THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

(As presented)
(Treasurer)
Election Commitments Costing Amendment Bill 2016

A Bill for
An Act to amend the Election Commitments Costing Act 2012

    

The Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory enacts as follows:

1	Name of Act
This Act is the Election Commitments Costing Amendment Act 2016.
2	Commencement
This Act commences on the day after its notification day.
Note	The naming and commencement provisions automatically commence on the notification day (see Legislation Act, s 75 (1)).
3	Legislation amended
This Act amends the Election Commitments Costing Act 2012.
4	Withdrawal of costing requests
Section 6 (1)
omit
section 9 (3) or section 10 (3)
substitute
section 9 (2) or section 10 (2)
5	New section 6 (1A)
insert
	(1A)	Also, a person may withdraw a costing request made by the person in a costing period for an election of the Legislative Assembly if—
	(a)	the person is given a copy of the costing under section 9 (2) or section 10 (2); and
	(b)	the costing has not been made publicly available under section 9 (1) (b) or section 10 (1) (b); and
	(c)	the person has, during the costing period, withdrawn less than 6 costing requests after the costings of the requests have been given to the person; and
	(d)	notice of the withdrawal is given to the director-general under subsection (2) within the time stated in the guidelines.
6	Guidelines for costing election commitments
Section 7
omit
may
substitute
must
7	Costing of election commitments and publishing costings—before polling day
Section 9 (1) to (3)
substitute
	(1)	If the director-general receives a costing request before polling day—
	(a)	if the request is not withdrawn under section 6 (1)—the director-general must cost the election commitment—
	(i)	as soon as practicable after receiving the costing request; and
	(ii)	before polling day; and
	(b)	if the request is not withdrawn under section 6 (1) or (1A)—the director-general must make the costing publicly available—
	(i)	as soon as practicable; and
	(ii)	before polling day; but
	(iii)	not earlier than the time stated in the guidelines.
Examples—publicly available
1	published on the Treasury website
2	media release issued by Treasury
Note	An example is part of the Act, is not exhaustive and may extend, but does not limit, the meaning of the provision in which it appears (see Legislation Act, s 126 and s 132).
	(2)	The director-general must, before making the costing publicly available, give a copy of the costing to the person who made the costing request.
8	Costing of election commitments and publishing costings—on or after polling day
Section 10 (1) to (3)
substitute
	(1)	If the director-general receives a costing request on or after polling day—
	(a)	if the request is not withdrawn under section 6 (1)—the director-general must cost the election commitment—
	(i)	as soon as practicable after receiving the costing request; and
	(ii)	before the end of the costing period; and
	(b)	if the request is not withdrawn under section 6 (1) or (1A)—the director-general must make the costing publicly available—
	(i)	as soon as practicable; and
	(ii)	before the end of the costing period; but
	(iii)	not earlier than the time stated in the guidelines.
Examples—publicly available
1	published on the Treasury website
2	media release issued by Treasury
Note	An example is part of the Act, is not exhaustive and may extend, but does not limit, the meaning of the provision in which it appears (see Legislation Act, s 126 and s 132).
	(2)	The director-general must, before making the costing publicly available, give a copy of the costing to the person who made the costing request.

Endnotes
1	Presentation speech
	Presentation speech made in the Legislative Assembly on 9 August 2016.
2	Notification
	Notified under the Legislation Act on	2016.
3	Republications of amended laws
	For the latest republication of amended laws, see www.legislation.act.gov.au.

© Australian Capital Territory 2016