AN altered Liberal Party how-to-vote card detrimental to the Nationals was the work of a rogue Wangaratta volunteer, say the Coalition partners.
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The volunteer responsible may now be facing fines of up to $10,000 if the Victorian Electoral Commission pursues the matter.
How-to-vote cards for Tony Schneider, the Liberal candidate for Euroa, handed out at the Wangaratta early voting centre yesterday morning had the upper house section crossed out where it had previously advised voters to vote 1 above the line for the Coalition.
Written by pen underneath was advice to vote below the line, with the three Liberal party candidates listed first, followed by the two Nationals candidates including sitting Northern Victoria Nationals MP Damian Drum at No.4.
The advice is contrary to the Coalition’s officially registered upper house ticket, which alternates between Liberal and National candidates.
A VEC spokesman said the commission would follow-up the complaint according to its usual guidelines after the VEC Ovens Valley election manager became aware of the cards.
The spokesman said how-to-vote cards must be authorised under section 83 of the Electoral Act and that by altering them, it was not the same material that had been authorised.
Changing the card and handing out unauthorised material were offences punishable by fines of up to $1476 and $8856 respectively.
Both the Liberal Party and the Nationals said the matter had been quickly dealt with and hosed down any speculation the cards reflected simmering tensions between the parties on state and federal levels.
Mr Schneider is facing off against the Nationals’ Steph Ryan in Euroa, in a three-cornered contest.
Nationals’ state director Jenny Hammett and Liberals for Indi field officer Karen Rourke both said the altered cards were the work of an over-zealous party member.
“Somebody had taken it upon themselves to write notes on a couple of the cards,” Ms Rourke said.
“It certainly wasn’t a directive and we have reminded everyone of
the rules and their
obligations.”
Ms Rourke said the person was not one of the party’s usual volunteers, and was handing out cards for Mr Schneider at the Wangaratta early voting centre.
“I believe they were only rostered on for a couple of hours, as soon as I became aware of it I went straight down there,” she said.
Ms Hammett said she was aware of the matter and was confident the Liberal Party had it in hand.
“You always get passionate, over-zealous supporters in all areas,” she said.
