Minor party leaders call for overhaul of 'corrupt' Senate preferencing system

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Published on Monday, 19 August 2013 12:28

Some minor party leaders are calling for an overhaul of Australia's Senate preferencing system, calling it "corrupt" and claiming that deals have gone unhonoured.

The deadline for political parties to get their Senate preferences deals lodged with the Australian Electoral Commission was Saturday, but it has been confirmed that some failed to lodge their ticket in time.

Australian voters can either vote above or below the line, with most opting for the simpler, above-the-line option, which leaves the political party of choice to direct where the preferences go.

That means preference deals, which are essential for minor parties if they have got any chance of election.

In Victoria, there are threats of legal action over what has been called a preference deal gone wrong.

"We did a preference swap with the Liberal Democratic Party and three other parties that were controlled by them," the Australian Sex Party's Robbie Swan said.

"But at the end of the day, we did all the preferencing we held to our end of the deal with the LDP.

"However, when it came time, the LDP failed to lodge in Victoria and so did the other parties that they controlled.

"Probably having seen Fiona Patten elected to the Senate in Victoria, that should be honoured in some way. That deal should be allowed to be honoured.

"The system allows it, but the system is corrupt. The system shouldn't allow someone to make arrangement and then not be able to fulfil it."

A spokesman for the LDP says it was not intentional, and the party ran out of time in the rush to meet the Saturday deadline.

Source: ABC News