Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The court ruling to drop voter fraud charges against two Indi students living in Melbourne has been hailed as a win for young people engaged in politics.
Indi MP Cathy McGowan said it was the right result and she was proud of Sophie Fuchsen and niece Maggie McGowan for their strength during a “stressful” investigation.
“That’s a relief to all country students and their families who had been really concerned about what the outcomes might be,” she said.
Young supporters called the “Indi expats” were credited with helping the independent to victory in 2013.
“It was really clear that the work we had done to encourage young people to participate was what happened,” Ms McGowan said.
“They have done that with courage, with grace, with persistence.”
The AFP announced in October 2014 it was investigating 27 Indi voters.
It confirmed Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions fraud charges against McGowan and Fuchsen in September 2015.
Ms McGowan said questions needed to be answered about why a complaint was made against her voters and why the investigation cost “an enormous amount of money”.
“The AEC ruling has been there forever and it is there today,” she said.
Solicitor Rob Stary said it was “curious” Indi voters had been targetted.
“It smelled like a rat, it looks like a rat and fortunately common sense has prevailed,” he said.
Magistrate Tim Bourke ordered the prosecution pay the costs of McGowan and Fuchsen’s legal fees, with the amount to be negotiated.
He told the court the defence had given three days notice it wanted the charges withdrawn during the last hearing, but the prosecution asked for an adjournment.
Maggie McGowan, who is living in the Northern Territory to practice law, said she did not want young people to be discouraged.
“I look forward to going back to celebrating our victory in Indi and continuing to advocate for strong leaders, accountable public institutions, and the voices of the people that major parties have forgotten,” she said.
