Australia’s next federal polls likely to cost additional A$30mn

Canberra, Jan 5 : Australia’s next federal election is likely to cost the country about an additional A$30 million ($22 million) due to measures in place against the coronavirus pandemic, it was revealed on Tuesday.
In a submission to a Senate budget hearing, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) revealed that the next election would cost taxpayers at least A$400 million, up from A$372 million in 2019, as a result of an expected increase in postal ballots and the hiring of Covid-19 wardens, Xinhua news agency reported.
“Many of the direct cost drivers for a Covid-safe election relate to personal protective equipment, additional security staff for social distancing and hygiene materials,” it said.
“Due to the long lead times and storage of many of the sanitizer products, it is unlikely there would be significant reductions in cost as most will be required for readiness for a 2021 event, even if the election does not occur until 2022.” The current three-year term of Parliament is set to end in 2022 but local media reports have said that MPs were preparing for Prime Minister Scott Morrison to call for an early election between August and November this year.
The AEC said that the status of the vaccine rollout would have a significant effect on the cost of the election.