Labor leaves door open to more dodgy HTV cards
Feb 07, 2012
Isobel Redmond MP
Leader of the Opposition
Shadow Minister for the Arts, Multicultural Affairs and ICAC
Labor leaves door open to more dodgy HTV cards
With two by-elections looming, Leader of the Opposition Isobel Redmond, has condemned the Labor Government for failing to meet its commitment to legislate against dodgy how-to-vote cards.
Almost two years since the Labor Party systematically used dodgy how-to-vote cards at the 2010 election and eight months since a Committee rejected its dodgy Bill to stop the dodgy cards, the Labor Government has failed to progress legislation to stop the practice.
In May 2011 a Legislative Council Select Committee recommended that Labor’s Bill be redrafted.
“Attorney-General Rau put forward the Electoral Bill saying it would deal with dodgy HTV cards – but the bill itself turned out to be dodgy,” Ms Redmond said.
“The key clause is based on a section of the Commonwealth Electoral Act which has been in for 71 years, yet there has never been a successful prosecution under it. In fact, the Australian Electoral Commission has recommended that the section be repealed.
“The Committee unanimously supported a full disclosure approach to try to avoid dodgy HTV cards in the future.
“Under the proposal, only HTV cards or second preference HTV cards – which have been lodged with the Electoral Commission at least seven days before election day – would be allowed to be distributed in the vicinity of a polling place on polling day.”
The Liberal Opposition calls on the Labor Party to show its bona fides on this issue by releasing all HTV cards it intends to distribute in the by-elections in advance of polling day.
The majority of the Committee found:
“The distribution of bogus how-to-vote cards by the Australian Labor Party in selected marginal seats at the 2010 General election fell short of community expectations of the standards of a political party and undermined public trust in the democratic processes of the State”.
Ms Redmond said “South Australians in Port Adelaide and Ramsay shouldn’t forget about Labor’s dodgy 2010 election tactics when they go to the polling booth this Saturday.”