Thursday, 14 November 2024

 Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:50): (1262) My constituency question is for the Minister for Local Government, and the matter I raise is concerning allegations of ballot fraud and vote tampering in the most recent local government elections. As the minister will be aware, the Victorian Electoral Commission have announced they are investigating suspected postal vote tampering at two councils, Knox City Council and Whittlesea City Council, including in my electorate in the Whittlesea Lalor ward. Four years ago the people of Moreland, now Merri-bek City Council, saw their own elections come under the same suspicion as an endorsed Labor Party councillor tampered with votes and attempted to subvert democracy. Once again we run the risk of voters having democracy denied to them. Will the minister act to suspend the previously sacked councillor in Lalor ward in Whittlesea until the investigation is complete? If fraud is uncovered, what action will the minister take to ensure the integrity of the election? This is the same part of the world where the Labor Party signs up dead people to stack Labor branches, federal MP’s electorate officers are taken to IBAC for rorting taxpayer funds – (Time expired)