Notice of MUA Quadrennial Election 2015 – 2019

The following information is provided to members to assist in the preparation for the conduct of the 2015 -2019 Election. It includes an explanation of the various steps to be taken by members, the National Council, existing officials and the National Returning Officers. The information provided hereunder also refers to a timetable summary, which is on the MUA Website to assist members. 

Nominations for the 2015 MUA Election open on Friday 6 March 2015 and close at 5pm on Tuesday 7 April 2015. The election will then be by a postal ballot of all financial members commencing on Tuesday 28 April 2015 and closing at 5pm on Monday 15 June 2015, in those positions where more than one candidate has validly nominated.

In accordance with the rules, the National Secretary advises that National Council has determined that the election shall be for the positions as listed:

Existing officers have notified the National Secretary if they were not standing for office or were standing for another position by Friday 6 February 2015, as per Rule 45 (i), which prohibits an officer of the union from nominating for a different office in the union unless he has given at least 28 days written notice before the opening of nominations.

Members have been notified of this information by Branch newsletters and the Union website.

A preliminary Roll of Voters and a Final Roll of Voters has been prepared by the National Secretary and provided to the National Returning Officer in accordance with Rule 46. The Final Roll of Voters in hard copy form may be provided to candidates who make such a request and who provide written confirmation to comply with the Privacy Act 1988 (as amended) and other requirements in MUA Sub-Rule 46(d) . The provision of this material will require the payment of the nominal cost for printing and postage.

Nomination papers will be available in Branch offices or can be downloaded from the MUA Election page on the MUA website. Nominations are to be in writing, signed by the nominee and two financial members of the Union and forwarded by mail or delivered to:

National Returning Officer

Maritime Union of Australia

PO Box 20433

World Square Sydney NSW 2002

It is strongly suggested that where the nomination papers are forwarded by mail, it be by Registered or Express Post mail such that the nominee shall retain verification of the date and means of postage through the unique identification number.

A candidate may enclose a 200-word statement and a head and shoulder photograph with their nomination.

The union will publish candidates' statements and photos on the MUA Website and in the MUA Election Booklet to be mailed with the ballot papers to financial members and provided to Branches. Candidates who fail to provide their statement and photo with their nomination [see Sub-Rule 45(j)] and prior to 5:00pm 7 April 2015 will miss out on publication in the Booklet and on the Website.

Statements shall require the approval of the National Returning Officer and shall meet requirements of the law. Scandalous or defamatory matter will not be published. Words in excess of the 200-word limit will be deleted from the end of the statement in conformity with Rule 45(j).

An electronic copy of the 200 word Statement (MS Word format) and the head and shoulder photograph (jpeg format 600 pixels high by 300 pixels wide) of the Candidate may be provided to the Returning Officer prior to the close of nominations (5:00pm 7 April 2015) and up to 3 days after the close of nominations (Friday 10 April 2015) provided that it is an identical replication of the Statement and Photograph that accompanies the Nomination form received and opened at the close of Nominations.

Only financial members who have been a member for at least one year at the close of nominations are eligible to nominate as required by Rule 45 (g).

No member shall be eligible to nominate for more than one office as prescribed in Rule 45 (h). If a member nominates for more than one such office, both nominations shall be void.

In the event of two or more candidates being nominated for any office, the National Returning Officer [as prescribed in Rule 47 (b)(i)] shall, seven days following the closure of nominations, arrange for the printing of ballot papers. These ballot papers shall contain the names of the candidates in alphabetical order.

The National Returning Officer will then cause each ballot paper to be initialled before dispatching ballot papers and the Election Statement (if any) to voters on Tuesday 28 April 2015, this is the day the ballot opens.

Members must check with their Branch to ensure their current mailing address is correct on the union's records.

The method of validly casting a vote is provided for in Sub-Rules 47(c) to (f) inclusive. The ballot material provided will contain voting instructions from the National Returning Officer. Absentee Voting is provided for where a member will not be present at the postal address provided in the Roll of Voters during the ballot period. In these circumstances a member may apply in writing to the National Returning Officer to personally collect the ballot materials or to have them sent to an address nominated by the member. Such applications must be made before 5pm on Tuesday 9 June 2015.

Each candidate shall have the right to appoint not more than two scrutineers being financial members of the Union who shall be entitled to be present at all stages of the ballot. The appointment of scrutineers shall be by notice in writing signed by the candidate to the National Returning Officer.

The rights and duties of scrutineers shall be to represent the interest of their appointing candidate. They shall be entitled to be present at all stages of the ballot while the Returning Officer carries out the procedures under the Rules and to direct the Returning Officer to any irregularity concerning the carrying out of any step in the ballot. They shall do all things necessary so that the secrecy of the ballot shall be observed. They shall not obstruct the Returning Officer in the performance of the Returning Officer’s duties nor interfere with the conduct of the ballot.

The National Returning Officer shall notify each candidate by post of the place and date of the Ballot Count at least 7 days prior to the count.

The ballot closes at 5pm on Monday 15 June 2015 and only ballot papers received by the National Returning Officer by that time shall be counted, provided that a ballot paper contained in a prepaid envelope which is received by the National Returning Officer by 5pm on Friday 19 June 2015 bearing a post mark dated not later than 15 June 2015 shall be counted.

On Tuesday 16 June 2015 the National Returning Officer and the Deputy National Returning Officer’s shall attend at a place nominated by and under the control of the National Returning Officer in order to count the ballot.
The counting of the Ballot will be undertaken in conformity with MUA Sub-rules 47 (g) to (i) inclusive and be under the control of the National Returning Officer.

Upon completion of the count, the National Returning Officer shall announce the result of the election in writing to the National Secretary and each Branch Secretary pursuant to Sub-Rule 47 (j).

Any protests will be dealt with in conformity with Sub-Rule 47 (l).

All persons declared elected shall take office from 1 July in the year of the Quadrennial Election

Please refer to the Election Timetable on the MUA Election Webpage which will assist members in dealing with relevant aspects of the election.