AddressAgency Purpose
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is an independent statutory authority established by the Australian Government to maintain an impartial and independent electoral system for eligible voters through active electoral roll management, efficient delivery of polling services, and targeted education and public awareness programs.
The AEC’s values and commitments
The AEC values and commitments are an essential component of our operating environment and frame how AEC staff work. The AEC's focus is on electoral integrity through the values of quality, agility and professionalism.
The Teams
Electoral Integrity and Communications Branch
The Defending Democracy Unit (DDU) plays a central role in upholding the integrity of elections by influencing advancements in Australia’s response to electoral interference.
The overall aim of the team is to shape and support the AEC’s capability to counter and respond to any instance of interference in electoral systems and processes. This includes the administration of the Electoral Integrity Assurance Taskforce (EIAT).
The EIAT consists of federal government agencies that provide advice and expertise within their remit, on a broad range of issues within the Australian electoral environment. The collaboration of the EIAT is a part of the AEC’s response to threats to our democracy.
The EIAT provides advice and reporting to departmental heads, statutory appointees and parliamentary committees as required. The EIAT is governed by a Board. Secretariat services for both the Board and the Taskforce are managed by the DDU.
Legal Services Branch
The Legal Services Branch is a small and dynamic team that provides legal, commercial, and regulatory advice and conducts investigations to ensure the integrity of Commonwealth electoral systems and processes. The Branch also has an active role supporting and increasing capabilities across the AEC through training and guidance.
The Legal Services Branch is headed by the Chief Legal Officer and is divided into three teams: Corporate Law, Regulatory Law and Electoral Law. The Branch is based in Canberra and in Brisbane.
Corporate law - advises a wide range privacy, information law and/or commercial and employment law matters.
Administrative law and statutory interpretation - provides strategic legal advice to the AEC in relation to the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984. Advising on statutory interpretation and administrative law issues, providing advice and support in relation to the legislative development process, and assisting the AEC in making robust administrative law decisions.
Regulatory law - provides regulatory enforcement advice, and manages legal complaints and litigations, in particular regarding Part XX-XX1 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (the authorisation of electoral communications and compliance with the funding and disclosure requirements).
The Opportunity
We are looking for legal talent to fill a 12-month contract to provide in-house legal and policy advice to the Defending Democracy Unit (DDU). Supported by the Corporate Law, Electoral Law, and Regulatory Law team in the Legal Services Branch, this position provides bespoke and timely services to the DDU.
Senior Government Lawyers in these teams manage and undertake the day-to-day matters relating to the provision of legal advice and services to all areas of the AEC. Noting that this round will create a merit pool for future non-ongoing opportunities at the Senior Government Lawyer and Executive Level 1 (EL1) level within the Legal Services Branch, including the Corporate Law, Electoral Law, and Regulatory Law team.
To excel you’ll have:
- Demonstrated ability to perform duties of a Senior Government Lawyer, with well-developed skills in analysing issues and providing high quality Legal Services.
- High standard of attention to detail and effective oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to work under limited supervision, take initiative, meet deadlines, and support management of a legal practice.
- Proven ability to work within a team and lead legal matters to ensure high quality outputs, including building team capability to maintain a high level of expertise and encourage career development.
- Experience in developing and actively managing key internal and external relationships, including collaborating with key stakeholders to identify opportunities, achieve outcomes and facilitate cooperation.
- Personal drive and integrity whilst achieving results within legislative and budget parameters.
- A degree in law from an Australian tertiary institution, admission to practice in Australia as a legal practitioner and at least three years of practical legal experience (for Senior Government Lawyers).
Eligibility
- AEC employees must be Australian citizens.
- Any person who is, and seen to be active in political affairs, and intends to publicly carry on this activity, may compromise the strict neutrality of the AEC and cannot be considered.
- Applicants are required to consent to, undergo, obtain and maintain a character clearance.
- Applicants are required to consent to, undergo, obtain and maintain the security clearance required for this role.
