Liberal get together headquarters have seized on a routine evaluate of Australia’s most up-to-date federal election to assert Labor desires to offer noncitizens voting rights.
An electronic mail despatched to Liberal get together supporters has urged individuals to put in writing a submission to the electoral issues parliamentary committee, claiming Labor desires to increase voting to New Zealand residents dwelling in Australia.
“Having residents of different nations vote in our elections could be a basic change to Australia’s democracy,” the e-mail from Liberal HQ mentioned.
“Labor has no mandate for this variation, which they didn’t point out earlier than the election. Why prolong voting rights to noncitizens from one nation, however not others? Would Labor then go additional and prolong voting rights to noncitizens from different nations?”
The e-mail inspired supporters to put in writing to the parliamentary committee, offering a hyperlink for straightforward submission.
Australia has allowed noncitizens to vote in federal elections and referendums since federation. Members of the Commonwealth who reside in Australia and have been enrolled to vote earlier than 1984 preserve that proper, and are topic to the identical fines and penalties as residents in the event that they don’t forged a poll.
Australian everlasting residents are capable of vote in New Zealand and the Australian electoral committee is whether or not to increase that very same liberty to New Zealanders dwelling in Australia. No different nation is being thought of underneath the phrases of reference.
The Liberal HQ marketing campaign follows within the footsteps of George Christensen, the previous LNP MP turned unsuccessful One Nation Senate candidate.
The previous Dawson MP claimed on Fb that Labor was setting the stage to “rig” future elections by “permitting non-citizens to vote”.
The August publish has been flagged by Fb as “lacking context” with the social media firm saying “impartial factcheckers say this data may mislead individuals”.
Christensen has nonetheless continued to push the declare, together with in emails to his substack e-newsletter subscribers.
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It's common apply for a parliamentary committee to evaluate the newest election. The phrases of reference for the evaluate embody donation reform, reality in promoting in addition to extending voting rights to New Zealand residents residing in Australia.
The committee chair, Kate Thwaites, wouldn't touch upon the Liberal and Christensen campaigns however mentioned the committee would study “all submissions and proof offered in hearings” as common.
The committee doesn't have the ability to make modifications or submissions – solely suggestions. After its report is tabled, the federal government decides whether or not or to not take up any suggestions, with any main modifications normally requiring laws that would wish to go parliament.
Submissions stay open for one more week.
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