Darron CharlesworthSA Labor's Illigal 'How to Vote' Cards Still Under Fire
April 21st 2010 06:14
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On March 20 in the South Australian election the Labor Party, it has been found, used deceptive tactics to aid in retaining government. On election day Labor assistants where seen handing out ‘how to vote’ cards with a very clear deceptive intent. These cards where printed in the colours of the Family First party and listed Labor as the second preference ahead of the Liberals – a position not supported by Family First. The people handing out the cards wore Family First colours and the cards in question did not identify as being from Labor. (Although the Labor Party’s campaign director’s name and address was in the fine print it is unclear how many of the voter would have made this connection. Given that a large percentage of voter don’t even know the name of the Premier or the PM it is unlikely they could identify the Labor Party’s campaign manager.)
In one of the seats where this tactic was employed the sitting member, Independent Kris Hanna, lost his seat. As a result today Mr Hanna lodged a petition against the use of said cards and the intent for which they were used. At this point the electoral commissioner has rejected any claims against the card’s use and made a statement that the use of the cards was not illegal.
This clear deceit of voters has so far caused a great deal of outrage in the community. If, as the electoral commissioner claims, their use was not illegal it should have been. After the use of these cards was made public the newly re-elected Premier, Mike Rann, stated that this was not something that he condones and not a tactic which he approved. Michael Wright added to this by commenting on amendments to the electoral act which would have prevented such a tactic being used and were rejected when Labor attempted to introduce these laws in Parliament. Given then, that Labor tried to have the use of such underhanded tactics made illegal, there is some hypocrisy present in the use of the practice by Labor.
Mr Hanna motion to have a By-Election held in the seat of Mitchell has considerable merit and any rejection of this by the Courts would be seen as just as outrageous as the electoral commissioner’s rejection of the complaint. For its part Labor needs to offer to hold By-Elections in any seat where this practice was employed to protect the integrity of its claim to power.
This clear deceit of voters has so far caused a great deal of outrage in the community. If, as the electoral commissioner claims, their use was not illegal it should have been. After the use of these cards was made public the newly re-elected Premier, Mike Rann, stated that this was not something that he condones and not a tactic which he approved. Michael Wright added to this by commenting on amendments to the electoral act which would have prevented such a tactic being used and were rejected when Labor attempted to introduce these laws in Parliament. Given then, that Labor tried to have the use of such underhanded tactics made illegal, there is some hypocrisy present in the use of the practice by Labor.
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