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THE Australian Federal Police will test the legality of 27 enrolments in Indi following allegations of incorrect enrolments and possible electoral fraud.
The Australian Electoral Commission yesterday said “questions remained” following its examination of the questionable enrolments, believed to all belong to supporters of independent MP Cathy McGowan, prompting it to refer the matter to police.
Details of the allegations and the possible charges, however, have not been confirmed by either the electoral commission or federal police.
Claims surfaced last week that more than 20 people involved in Ms McGowan’s campaign had registered to vote in Indi despite social media showing they lived, worked or studied elsewhere.
It also alleged they may have encouraged others to do the same, in a campaign of systemic fraud.
The group — allegedly including members of Ms McGowan’s family — all grew up in Indi and retained family ties, and had returned to volunteer on the grassroots campaign that led to Ms McGowan’s 439-vote victory over Sophie Mirabella, the only Liberal MP to lose a seat in the federal election.
There has been no suggestion that Ms McGowan was involved or knew of what was happening.
Ms McGowan said in a statement yesterday she had not been contacted by either the Australian Electoral Commission or Australian Federal Police.
“While this matter is under investigation I will not be making any further comment,” she said, standing by earlier remarks calling for people to refrain from making a judgment until the results were released.
The electoral commission’s electoral integrity unit was formed in July and launched its investigation into “potential enrolment irregularities” last week after the enrolments were brought to its attention.
Yesterday, acting electoral commissioner Tom Rogers said a number of Commonwealth laws may have been breached regarding the accuracy of the voters’ details.
The electoral commission has no investigatory powers and must refer any possible breach of the Electoral Act to the federal police to undertake its own inquiries.
The federal police did not answer specific questions from The Border Mail yesterday including: what the actual allegations were; what the possible charges and penalties might be; whether they would be examining more than the 27 enrolments referred to it; and if Ms McGowan was subject of the investigation.
Academics say there is a “grey area” on how enrolment laws are interpreted.
The electoral commission requires people to change their enrolment after living at a new address for one month, but there is also provision to enrol at the “home you intend to return to” and for students to remain enrolled at their parents’ address.
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