Compulsory voting
The Australian Electoral Commission has released an information paper on compulsory voting. It is an interesting overview of the history of compulsory voting in Australia, and the arguments for and against compulsory voting.
This may become a live issue. After each federal election, the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters (JSCEM) conducts an inquiry into the election and considers public submissions. The 1996 JSCEM recommended that compulsory voting should be repealed. The 2004 JSCEM recommended that a full and separate inquiry be held into voluntary and compulsory voting. While the Prime Minister has said that the abolition of compulsory voting will not occur before the next federal lection there are a number of members of the government, including influential ministers such as Senator Nick Minchin, in favour of voluntary voting.