WA: Beazley alleges dirty tricks in bogus card campaign =2

AAP General News (Australia)
02-10-2001
WA: Beazley alleges dirty tricks in bogus card campaign =2

"If we were to do this the Liberals would scream the roof down.

"I've never seen a dirtier trick. I've never seen anything as blatant as this."

Mr Beazley said his staff were photographing all the cards he claimed were bogus, which
he said were being handed out in the key southwest seats of Mandurah, Mitchell and Bunbury
and the wildcard far-north seat of Kimberley.

Asked what led him to believe the cards were bogus, Mr Beazley said: "They've been
authorised by individuals, and the Mandurah one, an S Post, has not to my knowledge had
anything to do with One Nation."

With such a close race, today's election will be decided on preferences.

The Liberals voted last month to put One Nation last on how-to-vote cards, fearing
an electoral backlash if the party was seen to be courting preferences from Pauline Hanson's
party.

The premier came under fire late last year after not ruling out putting One Nation
ahead of Labor on voting cards.

But Liberal candidates in recent days have been scrambling for preferences, Mr Court
himself urging preference support from minor party voters.

One Nation's official how-to-vote cards place all but four sitting members last.

Liberal Party state director Peter Wells was not immediately available for comment.

One Nation national vice president John Fischer said he believed Mr Wells had authorised
the cards personally.

"I just think it shows the inherent skulduggery the Liberals are prepared to go to,"

Mr Fischer said.

"If that's not illegal I don't know what is.

"Whether the Electoral Commission has the legs to do something about it I don't know."

AAP sd/jas/sb

KEYWORD: POLLWA CARDS 2 PERTH (REOPENS)

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