By Cimara Pearce
THE community is being encouraged to make submissions addressing the terms of reference surrounding the Kororoit District by-election.
The Electoral Matters Committee (EMC) began calling for submissions last week as part of its investigation into the Labor Party for its campaign against Western Suburbs youth worker and independent candidate Les Twentyman during the by-election last June.
Mr Twentyman lodged a formal complaint to the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) following the election, declaring that a pamphlet, authorised by ALP state secretary Stephen Newnham, that stated “a vote for Les Twentyman is a vote for the Liberals” deliberately misled voters.
The VEC inquiry found earlier this year that the pamphlet was misleading but due to a loophole in the law, the party could not be prosecuted.
The Opposition, which called for the current parliamentary inquiry, is hoping the investigation will shed light on the incident.
Submissions can be made until 3 August on the pamphlet and on suggestions by the VEC that the Electoral Act 2002 be amended to improve the operation of the misleading provisions of the Act to ensure prosecution of parties if similar situations arise.
The EMC is a joint investigatory committee of the Victorian Parliament which comprises seven Labor and Liberal MPs from both houses.
The committee’s investigation process involves advertising of the committee’s terms of reference and calls for submission from the public; gathering of information including fact and opinion found in submissions and present in public hearings, inspections and field trips; consideration of arguments, evidence and data and findings and recommendations which are agreed upon; tabling of a report including its recommendations in Parliament; and acceptance, rejection, modification, or adaptation of the report by the minister who initiated the inquiry.
Submissions can be sent to the executive officer, Electoral Matters Committee, Parliament House, Spring St, Melbourne, 3002.
For information on how to make a submission call 8682 2887.
