Fed: Teenagers allegedly given beer for ALP vote

AAP General News (Australia)
12-22-2003
Fed: Teenagers allegedly given beer for ALP vote

By Emma Ambler

SYDNEY, Dec 22 AAP - Three teenagers were given "beer money" to vote right-faction
candidates into a new NSW Labor Party branch, an ALP official alleged today.

The meeting was held last Tuesday in the non-Labor stronghold of Port Macquarie on
the mid-north coast of NSW.

ALP NSW branch assistant secretary Luke Foley today called for an inquiry, claiming
reports of voting impropriety during the ballot for an executive were the product of branch-stacking
by the party's majority right.

Mr Foley said he attended the meeting and spoke to three teenagers "who didn't seem
to know what they were doing there".

He asked them whether they were interested in joining the ALP and "they didn't seem
to comprehend the question".

Later that night, the three - whose age was unknown - were heard boasting in a local
bar about being given "beer money" for voting, Mr Foley said.

"If kids are being dragged out of bars and paid to go and vote at a meeting for candidates
of a particular faction - well that's just bribery.

"If there's not any political will from the NSW right to have a look at this, maybe
the police ought to."

Local federal candidate, Dr Greg Watters, instigated the meeting, but missed his pitch
for party secretary by one vote.

Dr Watters, who nominated for preselection in August, said it was a public meeting
and it was not up to him who attended, but he "disliked" the tactics that had been employed.

"We're not the heartbeat of politics here and I dislike the fact that this sort of
thing happened in Port Macquarie," the long-time party member said.

"It (the meeting) wasn't aimed at a factional thing at all, it was aimed to get people
to join in.

"It really is inducement and bribery, and also using alcohol inappropriately."

But a right-faction spokesman for the ALP, who did not wish to be named, said the allegations
were unfounded.

"We've received no challenges, no charges, no complaints, no anything," he said.

He discredited the Left's claim as sour grapes after losing the vote.

The ballot was only temporary until the administrative committee accepted the new branch
in February and a new vote could be held, he said.

The matter would be investigated if a formal complaint was made, he added.

AAP ea/nf/tma/de

KEYWORD: ALP

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