H.S. Chapman Society will be holding a briefing on disputed elections in the theatrette at Parliament House on Wednesday 23 February 2011 at 1.00pm preceded by a light lunch served from 12 noon. A registration form can be downloaded here.
The speaker will be the former parliamentarian and high profile barrister, Mr. Peter King. Mr. King played a leading part in the defence of the constitution from the beginning of the republican campaign in the early nineties.
Mr. King will discuss ‘the requirements for valid elections in N.S.W., and the Commonwealth, and what is required to dispute an election in this State, and the Commonwealth with particular reference to postal voting, early voting, declaration votes and other forms of voting other than the attendance at a polling booth.
He will also discuss the implied freedom of political communication as it relates to elections.
..current case before the Courts relating to 2010 election…
The Australian Electoral Commission has opposed this practice after each election for 20 years.
Mr. King is acting on behalf of three defeated candidates of the Christian Democratic Party – two in the seats of Lindsay and Robertson in the House of Representatives, and one Senate candidate in the 2010 election.
These cases have been referred to the Federal Court for hearing of facts in February, with the right to refer to the High Court both during and after the Federal Court hearing.