Budget cut shuts electoral school

The Australian Electoral Commission's Lonsdale Street centre, which teaches upwards of 15,000 Victorian schoolchildren each year about the country's electoral system, has borne the brunt of the federal belt-tightening, with its funding drying up at the end of the financial year.

A similar centre in Adelaide will close too, but the Canberra education centre will stay open.

The Melbourne centre offers free classes for primary and secondary school students, explaining Australia's electoral system, how houses of Parliament are elected, and the machinations of elections.

It also teaches new citizens about Australian democracy, and is part of the commission's push to ensure all eligible people are enrolled to vote.

The six staff at the Melbourne centre are said to be upset with the decision because it costs just $400,000 a year to run. The centre was relocated to Lonsdale Street and refurbished late last year at a cost of about $1 million.

Victorian Liberal senator Michael Ronaldson, who sits on the joint parliamentary committee on electoral matters, condemned the decision.

"This is the real face of Kevin Rudd's so-called education revolution — denying Victorian schoolchildren the opportunity to learn about the workings of our democracy," he said.

A spokeswoman for the commission said its commitment to electoral education would continue through other programs such as school visits.

A spokesman for Special Minister of State John Faulkner said attendances at the Melbourne education centre had declined by 31 per cent over the last two years. Affected staff would be reassigned if possible.

He said the Government dedicated $13 million in the budget to improving electoral participation among indigenous Australians.

"It is hypocritical of the Opposition to criticise the Government on education and enrolment when the last time they came to Government they abolished the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Electoral Information Service."