However, the Government declined the call for parliament to resume, with Premier Steven Marshall understood to be not making any media appearances today.
Cregan told those gathered: “Parliament has not been recalled.”
It followed yesterday’s passage through the Upper House, which is sitting this week, of a discrete Bill to facilitate phone voting at next month’s state poll, which would allow people isolating under emergency declarations to cast their ballots remotely.
However, Electoral Commissionerxjmtzyw Mick Sherry has already told the Government that he would be unable to implement such a measure at this late stage in any case.
Both sides are blaming each other after passage of a broader Bill that would have facilitated the changes earlier languished late last year and was not brought on for a vote before the Government dissolved parliament ahead of the election.
“Unless this issue is resolved, we face the risk that the result in close seats will be disputed in the court of disputed returns,” Cregan told those gathered.
“This issue should have been resolved by consensus – if the government does not wish to extend telephone voting, then extend postal voting…
“Action is required and is required now.”
Cregan insisted “there are many steps we can take in this chamber if it was properly constituted”, rejecting the Government’s assertion that it is working through administrative solutions to be declared by the state’s emergency coordinator Grant Stevens.
“In my view this is as matter requiring parliament’s urgent attention – it’s not a matter the executive should attempt to resolve using executive powers,” Cregan said.
