Independent Senate Candidates Make Formal Complaint to Australian Human Rights Commission
By Staff Reporter
Independent Senate Candidates Make Formal Complaint to Australian Human Rights Commission
Qld Senate Candidates Steve Dickson and Rebecca Lloyd have lodged a formal complaint about the Australian Electoral Commission.
Voters attending pre poll reached out to both Steve and Rebecca and Victorian Independents Morgan C Jonas and Monica Smit with the concern that there was no word ‘Independent’ next to their name, and that the column above the line to vote for them was completely empty, and that staff have informed them that perhaps the candidates had “withdrawn” or “been scratched”.
The complaint outlines this being discriminatory and a deliberate act to confuse voters.
The pair have received thousands of messages of support including the support of Minor Parties who support the need for light to be shone on the issue, and the need for an even playing field.
Mr Dickson, a former Qld Racing Minister posted on his social media likening their predicament to ‘entering the Melbourne Cup race, but it being difficult to bet on a horse if it doesn’t have a name on the ticket’.
They have sought an urgent response from the AEC regarding the complaint.