POLLS APART
Police called in to probe leaflets
EXCLUSIVE polling by the Mercury shows that independent candidates might be eroding the Labor vote.
Meanwhile, a uComms survey shows that the election race could be closer than expected.
In today’s Mercury, we reveal the issues that matter most to voters.
A survey of 1000 Mercury readers showed that respondents were more likely to vote for the Greens or an independent than Labor.
Four-fifths of respondents said they had decided who they were going to vote for, with 31 per cent of them saying they intended to vote for the Liberals.
Meanwhile, 17 per cent said they would vote for the Greens, the figure was the same for independents, 16 per cent for Labor while 15 per cent were undecided.
Meanwhile, shadow Attorney-General Ella Haddad has written to Police Commissioner Darren Hine asking him to determine whether the use of taxpayers’ money for Liberal Party promotional leaflets may be a breach of the Criminal Code Act.
LABOR has reported every sitting Liberal MP to the police with a complaint alleging stealing.
Shadow Attorney-General Ella Haddad has written to Police Commissioner Darren Hine asking him to determine whether the use of taxpayers’ money for promotional leaflets may be a breach of the Criminal Code Act.
Ms Haddad said $150,000 worth of flyers were ordered by Liberal MPs before the election was called — but scheduled for delivery afterwards.
She said the breach of the Government Members’ Handbook could amount to misappropriation by stealing.
Her complaint to police comes after reports pamphlets bearing the Liberals’ election slogan appearing in Tasmanian homes after the election was called were paid for out of Liberal MPs’ resource allocation. The rules for use of the funds — $10,000 per member — state they can be spent only on “research and support, or equipment”.
While this can include printed material detailing policy, the rules say this cannot be deemed election material.
“Minister (Michael) Ferguson admitted the above named Liberal members of parliament had used parliamentary expenses entitlements for the production and/or distribution of political election material during the election period,” Ms Haddad says in her letter.
“As much as $150,000 of public money may be involved.
“I attach samples of the election material delivered to electors in all five electorates from Monday, April 12.
“I also attach a copy of Australia Post mail sorting instructions from the Premier’s office for the election material to be delivered to households in the 7315 and 7018 postcodes.
“The instruction is that the deliveries occur in the week commencing April 12. This date is significant because it coincides with the commencement of early polling.”
Longstanding convention and the Government Members’ Handbook bar the use of parliamentarians’ allowances for election material.
Ms Haddad told Mr Hine the money was spent dishonestly “in violation of good faith and contrary to the direction”.
Liberal campaign spokesman Mr Ferguson refuted the allegation. pleading “not guilty”. “The brochure was organised prior to the election being called and was funded by members through their Members’ Resource Allocation.
“This is the same allowance and the rules of usage available to all members of parliament, including Labor, Greens, and independents.
“The brochure provides details of the government’s policy positions, as announced in the Premier’s State of the State address. This is consistent with the relevant guidelines in the Government Members’ Handbook.”
Labor spent Friday campaigning on the West Coast, pledging around $80m for local communities, including $40m for sealing the Western Explorer, plus a jobs hub in Queenstown and tourism and cultural projects.