Australian Consulate-General, Guangzhou
Media Release PD36/07 Date:9/11/2007
Australian Citizens Can Vote in Their National Election in Guangzhou
“Australian citizens in southern China will be able to cast their vote in the forthcoming Australian federal election at the Australian Consulate-General in Guangzhou,” the Australian Consul-General, Mr Sean Kelly, announced today.
The Australian federal election will take place on Saturday, 24 November 2007. The Consulate-General will again be providing polling services to its citizens at 6th floor of the Development Center, 3 Linjiang Da Dao, Zhujiang New City, Guangzhou, from 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday from 12 November 2007 until Election Day. Polling services will also be open on Election Day from 8:30am to 5.00pm. All voters must present photo ID, preferably their Australian passport, before entering the voting premises.
“We are keen to ensure that all Australian citizens have the opportunity to vote,” Mr Kelly said. “We believe we have thousands of Australian citizens residing temporarily or on a long-term basis in southern China – most of them Chinese-Australians. In order to ensure they all have the opportunity to vote, the Consulate-General for the first time is advertising voting services in the Chinese-language media.”
Voting is compulsory in federal elections for Australian citizens resident in Australia, and fines apply for failing to vote. However, if a citizen is outside Australia on Election Day, they will not be fined as long as they have notified the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). For further information, Australians can contact the AEC via their website www.aec.gov.au, by email to [email protected], or by phoning +61 2 6271 4411.
“The Consulate-General also announces events like the election through e-mails to citizens registered with the Consulate,” the Consul-General explained, “but we believe many Australians have not yet registered.”
“I strongly urge all Australian citizens to register on-line at www.orao.dfat.gov.au,” Mr Kelly said. “The information you provide is fully protected for your privacy, and cannot be used for any other purpose than to provide consular assistance and services to you, particularly in case of an emergency.”
For further information, please contact Ms Willow Li, Research Assistant (Tel: 020 3814 0186, E-mail: [email protected])