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Three-member statutory authority

The NSW Electoral Commission is an independent, three-member statutory authority constituted under the Electoral Act 2017.

The chief responsibilities of the NSW Electoral Commission statutory authority are to:

  • enforce the electoral laws

  • approve or decline the payment of public funds to eligible political participants

  • commence prosecutions for breaches of electoral laws

  • conduct and promote research into electoral matters.

The Commission meets at least six times each year to consider matters that are raised and to make decisions.

The Commission is different to a board because it does not direct or decide on the activities of the Electoral Commission agency (led by the Electoral Commissioner) or the conduct of elections.

The NSW Electoral Commission provides advice to the Electoral Commissioner when requested, but cannot direct the public service agency, the conduct of elections or matters relating to the electoral roll.

Statements by the Chair of the NSW Electoral Commission

The Chair of the NSW Electoral Commission issues statements on matters or decisions of public interest from time to time. Statements made by the Chair are published and archived on this website.

Read statements issued by the Chair of the NSW Electoral Commission.

Members of the NSW Electoral Commission statutory authority

Arthur Emmett AO KC, BA LLB LLM LLD
Chairperson of the NSW Electoral Commission

The Hon Arthur Emmett AO KC, BA LLB LLM LLD graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts (1964), Bachelor of Laws (1967) and Master of Laws with honours (1976). In 2009, the University conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa). Arthur has been Challis Lecturer in Roman Law at the University of Sydney since 1990. In 2016 Arthur was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia.

In 1967 Arthur was admitted as a solicitor in New South Wales, in 1978 he was admitted as a barrister in New South Wales and in 1985 was appointed Queen's Counsel. Arthur was a judge of the Federal Court of Australia from 1997 until 2013, a Judge of Appeal of the Supreme Court of New South Wales from 2013–15, and for six years from October 2015, was an Acting Judge of Appeal, also sitting in the Commercial and Real Property Lists of the Equity Division.

From October 2007 to March 2011, Arthur was the President of the Copyright Tribunal of Australia. 

Prior to commencing as Chair of the NSW Electoral Commission, Arthur served as Chair of the Electoral Districts Redistribution Panel to determine the 2021 redistribution of names and boundaries of NSW electoral districts.

Sandra Boswell BEc, Dip.Ed
Member of the NSW Electoral Commission

Ms Sandra Boswell graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Economics and a Graduate Diploma of Education and has over 25 years’ experience in professional services.

Ms Boswell is a Partner of Grant Thornton Australia where she assists companies regarding innovation in Australia. Prior to this, she was a partner for 15 years with PwC Australia during which time she led businesses within PwC and was also a member of the Australian Governance Board of Partners. Ms Boswell chaired the Finance and Operations (Audit) Committee whilst on the Board and was a member of several other committees.  In 2017 she was appointed as a member of the PwC Asia Pacific Board.

Ms. Boswell is also a Non-Executive Director of the Global Legal Identity Foundation (“GLEIF”) based in Switzerland where she is currently a member of the audit committee having been chair of that committee from 2019- 2021.  She has had held several other Board appointments previously including being a board member and Chair of the Audit Committee on Sisters of Charity Foundation as well as a board member of the Heart Research Institute where she chaired the Commercialisation Committee. 

Rachel McCallum BA LLB GAICD GIA (Cert)
NSW Electoral Commissioner

Ms Rachel McCallum was appointed NSW Electoral Commissioner by Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales commencing 2 December 2024.

Rachel joins the Electoral Commission from the Information and Privacy Commission (IPC) NSW where was NSW Information Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer.  Rachel was also previously a member of the board of the NSW State Records Authority.

Prior to her IPC appointment, Rachel was Executive Director, Funding Disclosure & Compliance and General Counsel with the Electoral Commission. She has also served as a senior executive at the former NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet and in senior executive legal and policy roles with Transport for NSW, the former NSW Attorney General’s Department and the NSW Office of Local Government. Rachel has also been a solicitor in private practice and been a legal policy adviser and solicitor with the Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department.

Alan Robertson SC BA LLB
Deputy to the Chair, NSW Electoral Commission

The Hon Alan Robertson SC graduated from the Australian National University with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) (1972) and Bachelor of Laws (Hons) (1980). Alan was admitted in 1980 as a Legal Practitioner of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory.

After working in the Commonwealth Attorney General's Department from 1980 to 1983, Alan moved to the New South Wales Bar and, in 1995, was appointed Senior Counsel.

Alan was a part-time member of the Administrative Review Council between 1992 and 1997 and was appointed a judge of the Federal Court in April 2011, retiring from that court in 2020. While a judge of the court, Alan was a Deputy President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and a Deputy President of the Australian Competition Tribunal.

Alan is an Honorary Professor at the Australian National University and President of the Australian Academy of Law.