Skip to contentInformation for people with disabilityInformation on accessibility
Australian Electoral Commission
Electoral officials from 13 countries in the Asian, Pacific and Southern African regions participated in the international visitors program conducted by the AEC during the 1999 referendum.
In the lead up to the referendum, the AEC issued an invitation to a number of electoral organisations to participate in a study program on the planning and organisation of the referendum. A total of 31 senior electoral officials from 13 countries accepted the invitation and took part in one of the two study programs offered.
The list beginning in the next column details the electoral officials who participated in the 1999 referendum international visitors program and the country they represented.
The first study program covered all aspects of the AEC's administration and conduct of elections and referendums and ran over ten days. This program was based at the AEC's central office in Canberra and included sessions on the legislative framework for conducting a referendum, referendum management, voter education programs, information technology and training of polling staff. The participants also travelled interstate to Brisbane, Sydney or Hobart to observe field operations at an AEC head office and several divisional offices.
The second program, conducted over four days, concentrated on polling and included information sessions on the conduct of the poll and the preliminary scrutinies.
On polling day the participants of both programs visited several polling places in the Canberra region to observe polling and the conduct of the preliminary scrutiny.
The international visitors program is part of the AEC's ongoing commitment to encouraging communication and cooperation with international electoral bodies, particularly those in the Asia Pacific region. The aims of the program were to:
| Bangladesh | |
|---|---|
| Mr Abdullah Haroon Pasha Secretary, Election Commission Secretariat |
Syed Md. Khurshid Anwar Senior Assistant Secretary, Election Commission Secretariat |
| Mr Mihir Sarwar Morshed Deputy Election Commissioner |
|
| Canada | |
| Mr Bob Patterson Chief Electoral Officer, British Columbia |
Ms Linda Johnson Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, British Columbia |
| Fiji | |
| Mr Kameli Koto Deputy Supervisor of Elections |
|
| Kyrgyz Republic | |
| Tabyldy Orozaliev Chief of Staff, Central Elections-Referenda Commission |
|
| Lesotho | |
| Mr Sekara Sam Mafisa Chairman, Independent Electoral Commission |
|
| Uganda | |
| Mrs Mary Maitum Member of Electoral Commission of Uganda |
Ms Eflance Kiwanuka Director Finance and Administration, Electoral Commission of Uganda |
| Nepal | |
| Mr Bishnu Pratap Shah Chief Election Commissioner | Prof Dr Birendra Prasad Mishra Election Commissioner |
| Mr Ramesh Jung Thapa Election Commissioner |
|
| Papua New Guinea | |
| Mr Andrew Trawen Deputy Electoral Commissioner, PNG Electoral Commission |
Mr Michael Malabag Director Administration, PNG Electoral Commission |
| Mrs Eileen Tugum-Kolma Editor of The Voter, PNG Electoral Commission |
Mrs Kila Burro Manager Enrolment, PNG Electoral Commission |
| Mrs Regina-Lunge Maingu Manager Industrial Elections, PNG Electoral Commission |
|
| Thailand | |
| Mr Theerasak Karnasuta Chairman, Election Commission of Thailand |
Mr Pokkrong Soontharasudth Deputy Secretary-General, Election Commission of Thailand |
| Mr Wisuth Pothitaen Commissioner, Election Commission of Thailand |
Mr Krit Urwongse Director Administration Division, Election Commission of Thailand |
| Miss Prapaporn Agamanon Adviser to the Chairman for International Affairs, Election Commission of Thailand |
|
| Sri Lanka | |
| Mr P M Siriwardhena Deputy Commissioner of Elections |
Mr S M Abeyratna Assistant Commissioner of Elections |
| Mr H A S Hapuarachchi Accountant, Department of Elections |
|
| South Africa | |
| Dr Udesh Pillay Director Delimitation, Independent Electoral Commission SA |
Ms Nomcebo Zondi Deputy Director Legislation, Dispute Resolution & Research, Independent Electoral Commission SA |
| Tonga | |
| Mr Pita Vuki Deputy Chief Electoral Officer |
|
| Vanuatu | |
| Mr Charles Bice Chairman, Electoral Commission |
Ms Jeanette Bolenga Principal Electoral Officer |
The AEC acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters, culture and community. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.