AEC TO PROBE COMPLAINTS
A TOOWOOMBA federal election candidate denies he has been harassing volunteers at pre-polling booths, after two complaints were made against him by different parties.
The Australian Electoral Commission said it was investigating claims that the Australian Federation Party’s Ryan Otto verbally harassed and filmed Labor and Greens supporters handing out howto-vote cards last week.
Labor candidate Gen Allpass alleged Mr Otto had driven one older volunteer to tears after confronting her at a booth.
“It was the way he was standing over her and in her space — she started shaking and crying,” she said.
“He just keeps going to the different booths and causing issues.”
The Greens confirmed it had filed a similar complaint about Mr Otto.
Mr Otto dismissed the claims, saying he was simply having robust conversations.
“She said I was being too loud and tried to shut me up because I was having a passionate conversation, and I told her I had a right to speak,” he said.
“If that made her cry, I’m sorry I hurt her feelings, I was just being loud – I’m loud and a little bit obnoxious.”