Greens post riles Labor

A STOUSH has broken out between Labor and the Greens over a Facebook post that Labor alleges breaches the Electoral Act, as the Greens refuse to take it down.

The Tasmanian Electoral Commission (TEC) wrote to Greens leader Cassy O’Connor on Monday after a complaint was made about a post made on her Facebook page on Sunday

that mentioned the names of two other candidates.

In a post accompanying a video featuring Ms O’Connor and Greens candidate for the Legislative Council division of Huon Pat Caruana, Ms O’Connor’s page published the names of Labor candidate Bastian Seidel and incumbent member, independent Robert Armstrong in reference to the issue of poker machine policy.

In an email to Ms O’Connor on Monday, the TEC said the post may breach section 196 of the Electoral Act 2004 and asked her to remove it.

The TEC wrote that a person must not publish or distribute any “advertisement, ‘how to vote’ card, handbill, pamphlet, poster or notice which contains the name, photograph or a likeness of a candidate” without “the written consent of the candidate”.

Labor Party state secretary

Stuart Benson confirmed he was the complainant.

“Why do the Greens think they are above the Electoral Act?,’’ he said.

“The Act is very clear and we adhere to it. If they don’t know it, then why don’t they know it?

“I think everyone should adhere to the rules. There’s no excuse for pleading ignorance. “If we did that to the Greens

or any other political opponent, they would make complaints straight away to the electoral commission.”

But the Greens believe the act is ambiguous on whether a Facebook post would breach the rules. The party said the post would remain up while they could seek legal advice on the matter.

“The Facebook post which Labor seems to be upset about was simply our Huon candidate, Pat Caruana, and I asking if Dr Seidel would toe his party’s line and back in pokies in pubs and clubs until 2043, or if he would stick to his past statements and cross the floor,’’ Ms O’Connor said.

“This is a crucial issue. The voters of Huon deserve to know what they are voting for,” she said.

The Tasmanian Electoral Commission confirmed to the Mercury that a complaint had been made about the post.