77Review by regional panel

77 Review by regional panel

(1) If details have been recorded under subrule 76 (3), the voter affected may request a review of the decision by a regional panel.

(2) A request under subrule (1) must:

(a) be in writing and may be in the approved form; and

(b) be given to the presiding officer before the person leaves the polling booth after casting his or her vote.

(3) If a presiding officer has assisted or has permitted a person to be assisted in voting under rule 79, the presiding officer must assist the person in complying with subrule (2).

(4) If a person requests a review under subrule (1), the person may, within 7 days after the request is given under subrule (2), provide further information to the senior liaison officer to support his or her claim to be an Aboriginal person or a Torres Strait Islander.

(5) On receiving:

(a) the request under subrule (l); and

(b) the further information (if any) provided by a person under subrule (4);

the senior liaison must assemble a regional panel to review the person’s claim to be an Aboriginal person or a Torres Strait Islander and decide whether, on the balance of probabilities, the person is an Aboriginal person or a Torres Strait Islander.

(6) A regional panel is made up of:

(7) The senior liaison officer must, in writing, inform the person of the decision of the regional panel under subrule (5).

(8) Subject to subrule (9), the senior liaison officer must, as soon as practicable, inform the Returning Officer of the decision of the regional panel in relation to each request for review.

(9) The review by the regional panel under subrule (5) must be completed not later than 9 days after the close of the poll.