The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) warn Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) office closures in regional NSW will cost regional communities secure jobs, local electoral expertise and access to trusted democratic services. This comes after decisions made by the Federal Government to relocate and consolidate four regional NSW AEC divisional offices into Coffs Harbour.

The union says cuts to regional public sector jobs will have negative impacts on the workers and their families, and have a ripple effect for local businesses, as well as the communities who rely on the trusted and trained public services they deliver.

The four offices set to close are Armidale and West Kempsey, which are already temporarily closed and set to close permanently in August and October respectively; and Grafton and Taree, proposed to close in May and October 2027 respectively. This year alone, 11 offices have either closed or are proposed for closure, bringing the total number of electoral offices shut down over six years to 43, with another eight more offices slated to close in 2027.

Regional communities rely on AEC divisional offices as a cornerstone of representative democracy — supporting truth and the integrity of the electoral process, political participation, democratic enfranchisement and civic education.

AEC employees bring deep, long-term local knowledge — not just of electorate boundaries and geography, but of the democratic process and the history of candidates and Members of Parliament. That expertise is built over years in the community and is critical to ensuring Australians can access accurate, trusted electoral information. They also play a critical role in conducting election delivery, including recruiting and coordinating the additional staff needed for postal voting, pre-polling and election day services.

Additionally, closing these offices will create new barriers for vulnerable electors, independent candidates and regional communities, while making it harder for AEC workers to deliver election services across large geographic areas.

In its 2026-27 Regional Ministerial Budget Statement, the Federal Government said “quality services are essential to liveable and sustainable regional communities" and “Investing in people is an investment in the future of regional communities and the nation’s long term prosperity.” Yet we are seeing the continued closure of AEC Divisional offices across regional Australia.

The CPSU is calling on the Government to reconsider its decision to relocate regional AEC Divisional Offices to bigger cities and to continue its promise to support and deliver local jobs and services in regional Australia.

Quotes attributable to Rebecca Fawcett, CPSU Deputy Secretary:

“These closures don’t just cut jobs; they strip regional communities of secure employment, local expertise and the public services that help keep them connected, represented and engaged in the democratic process.

“CPSU members working in AEC divisional offices play a vital role in supporting our democracy, providing trusted, expert advice to local communities year-round. These are highly skilled public sector workers with deep local knowledge that cannot be easily replaced.

“And not everyone can travel to Canberra to see Parliament in action, and they shouldn’t have to. AEC divisional offices play a crucial role in bringing civics education into local communities, giving students and the public a direct connection to our democratic system.

“If these offices are scaled back or removed, we risk cutting people off from the knowledge and engagement that underpin a strong, healthy democracy.

“The CPSU is calling on the Federal Government to reconsider this decision and work with workers, unions and the community to ensure the integrity and accessibility of our electoral system is protected.”

25 JUNE 2026 / Media contact: Penni Pappas – 0458 895 445