Liberals Accused of Misleading Postal Vote Strategy in Voice Referendum
Introduction:
The Liberal party is facing criticism for its alleged misleading postal vote strategy for the voice referendum, as Labor calls for an investigation into their tactics. The Liberals have been accused of using dirty tactics by distributing anti-voice pamphlets that contain a QR code for postal vote registrations. However, the link redirects voters to a party website to gather personal information, despite the fact that postal vote registrations are not yet open. This article explores the controversy surrounding the Liberal party’s actions and the response from Labor.
Misleading Postal Vote Strategy:
Labor has written to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), raising concerns about the Liberal party’s material and its potentially misleading nature. Under the referendum legislation, postal vote applications are not permitted until after the issue of the writ for the referendum. Therefore, any application made through the Liberal party’s website would not be accepted. This discrepancy has led Paul Erickson, the Labor party’s national secretary, to accuse the Liberal party of misleading Australians about the referendum process and potentially collecting their personal information under false pretenses.
Response from Liberal Party:
A spokesperson from the Liberal party has defended their actions, accusing Labor of extreme hypocrisy due to their previous use of a similar website. The spokesperson argues that both major parties, including some independents, have historically offered postal vote applications to voters. They also highlight that their website has been used in previous elections and is similar to platforms employed by the Labor party. The timing of the Liberal party’s mail-out has been criticized by Labor, but they have not ruled out conducting their own mail-outs once the writs have been issued.
Calls for Reform:
The issue of political parties collecting voter data through postal vote applications has drawn criticism from various quarters. Independent MP Kate Chaney has introduced a private members’ bill that aims to restrict parties from sending unsolicited postal vote applications and prevent data harvesting. According to Chaney, these practices mislead the public and highlight the cynical and opportunistic nature of the Liberal party’s no campaign. The Australian Electoral Commission has also expressed its preference for a system that excludes political parties, as they often receive complaints from citizens who mistake third-party material for official AEC communications.
Conclusion:
The Liberal party’s distribution of anti-voice pamphlets containing a QR code for postal vote registrations has attracted scrutiny and backlash. Labor has called for an investigation into the party’s actions, accusing them of misleading voters about the referendum process. The response from the Liberal party has been defensive, citing the practices of other parties and claiming that their website for postal votes has been used in previous elections. However, the controversy has prompted discussions about the need for reform to prevent data harvesting and improve the transparency and integrity of the postal voting process.
