Commonwealth act

Election Expenses Reimbursement Act 1908

RepealedCTH

This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.

Jurisdiction

Commonwealth

Act Number

20 of 1908

Collection

act

Plain English Summary

1/10 complexity

This Act provides a one-off compensation payment to three specific candidates who ran in federal elections that were later cancelled by the courts.

When an election is declared void (cancelled or invalidated due to legal problems), candidates who spent money campaigning lose their campaign investment even though they don't get the seat. This Act reimburses those expenses using public funds.

Specifically, it pays out £1,315 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (the government's main bank account) to cover costs for:

Joseph Vardon – Senate candidate for South Australia (election voided 1 June 1907)
James Vincent O'Loghlin – Senate candidate for South Australia (election voided 20 December 1907)
Albert Clayton Palmer – House of Representatives candidate for Echuca (election voided 10 June 1907)

This is narrow, historical legislation that names specific individuals to compensate them for legal expenses incurred in three specific electoral disputes from 1907.

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Current sections

Direct links to the current provisions in Election Expenses Reimbursement Act 1908.

Election Expenses Reimbursement Act 1908

ELECTION EXPENSES REIMBURSEMENT.

No. 20 of 1908.

To grant and apply out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund a sum for the purpose of reimbursing expenses incurred by candidates in connexion with certain elections which have been declared void and in proceedings in relation thereto.

[Assented to 10th June, 1908.]

Preamble.

BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, for the purpose of appropriating the grant originated in the House of Representatives, as follows:—

Short title.

This Act may be cited as Election Expenses Reimbursement Act 1908.

Appropriation for reimbursement of expenses incurred in connexion with certain void elections.

There shall be payable out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is hereby appropriated accordingly, the sum of One thousand three hundred and fifteen pounds, for the purpose of reimbursing expenses incurred by candidates in connexion with the following elections which have been declared void, namely:—

(a) The election of Joseph Vardon, esquire, as a Senator for the State of South Australia, which was declared void by the Court of Disputed Returns on the first day of June, One thousand nine hundred and seven:

(b) The election of James Vincent O’Loghlin, esquire, as a Senator for the State of South Australia by the Houses of the Parliament of South Australia, sitting together, which was declared void by the Court of Disputed Returns on the twentieth day of December, One thousand nine hundred and seven; and

(c) The election of Albert Clayton Palmer, esquire, as a Member of the House of Representatives for the Electoral Division of Echuca, which was declared void by the Court of Disputed Returns on the tenth day of June, One thousand nine hundred and seven;

and in proceedings in relation to those elections.

Source text

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.

1 Election Expenses Reimbursement Act 1908