----- Original Message ----- From: Kerry Spencer-Salt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <Recipient list suppressed> Sent: Sunday, October 31, 1999 3:53 PM Subject: Update on Scrutineering > The following was sent to the Australian newspaper as a letter to the > editor. It was written by on of my regular E-Mail contacts. It provides a > good description of the problems that we are facing in regards to getting a > valid vote at the referendum. > > =================================================================== > > According to the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act) 1984, scrutineers > must be appointed by the Governor-General (or a person duly authorized by > him), the Governor of any state (ditto), or the registered officer of a > registered political party (ss 27, 89 RMPA). > > Upon being informed of this by the Australian Electoral Commission, an > acquaintance of mine wrote to the Governor-General requesting appointment > as an independent scrutineer. > > The response from Mr Martin Bonsey, Official Secretary to the > Governor-General, was as follows: "As with elections, it is expected that > the political parties will be naming sufficient scrutineers for the > purposes of the referendum and therefore, it is not expected that the > Governor-General will be making any such appointments." (fax from > Government House 29/10 '99, 15:09) > > This is not good enough. A referendum is not an election, and has nothing > to do with political parties. More to the point, as support for the > referendum is bi-partisan, it is essential there be independent > scrutineers. As well, it is surely discrimination (even illegal?) to limit > scrutineering to party members. > > Unless this situation is fixed, any "Yes" result in the referendum result > will have no credibility. > > > A.F. > ==================================================================== > > Kerry Spencer-Salt B.E., LL.B (Hons) > The National Watchman > Australian Community Organisation > P.O. Box 136, Surry Hills NSW 2010 > > Phone : (02) 9360 0610 > E-Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Website : www.rockroll.com.au/watchman > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------- This is the Neither public email list, open for the public and general discussion. To unsubscribe click here Mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Subject=unsubscribe To subscribe click here Mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Subject=subscribe For information on [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.neither.org/lists/public-list.htm For archives http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
