Kooyong challenger to continue court action despite voting rule changes - 9News

The Independent candidate hoping to take Treasurer Josh Frydenberg's seat of Kooyong tomorrow is pressing ahead with legal action against the Commonwealth on COVID-positive voters, despite an Australian Electoral Commission backflip this morning.

The federal government confirmed today it would back the AEC's recommendation to extend phone voting eligibility less than 24 hours before polls open tomorrow.

A loophole in the original regulations could have seen thousands of COVID-positive voters left unable to cast their ballot.

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Independent for Kooyong Dr Monique Ryan has said she will continue her legal challenge around COVID-positive voter eligibility. (AFR)

Originally, only people who tested positive to COVID-19 after 6pm on Tuesday this week could be eligible for phone voting.

People who tested positive to the virus before that deadline, but did not register for a postal vote before applications closed on 6pm this Wednesday, would be unable to cast a phone ballot.

This meant potentially thousands of voters could be left in isolation on Saturday with no way of participating in the democratic process.

However, this morning, the AEC has recommended that phone voting eligibility be extended to anybody who tested positive to COVID-19 from last Friday.

Independent candidate for Kooyong Monique Ryan had announced last night she would launch a legal challenge against Special Minister for State Ben Morton to ensure COVID-positive Australians were not shut out of voting.

"While media reports and government statements would indicate that we have won, until we have a law – not an announcement – we are continuing to support action in the Federal Court on this issue," Ryan said in a statement today.

"There have been some costs to get to this point, but regardless, we anticipate that there will be significant funds left over after this incredible community response, which raised $126,843.98."

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Ryan said her campaign would offer a refund of all "unspent" funds to donors as soon as possible.

"Some donors have indicated that they don't want refunds. In that event, we will donate any remaining funds to a charitable legal advocacy fund to keep fighting for all Australians' ability to vote," she said.

"We have shared this information with all the donors to our legal fund and will be contacting them to discuss their options within the next few days."

Special Minister for State Ben Morton had pledged to act on the AEC's recommendation as soon as it was received.

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMilwFodHRwczovL3d3dy45bmV3cy5jb20uYXUvbmF0aW9uYWwvZmVkZXJhbC1lbGVjdGlvbi0yMDIyLWtvb3lvbmctbW9uaXF1ZS1yeWFuLWxlZ2FsLWNoYWxsZW5nZS1jb3ZpZC1wb3NpdGl2ZS12b3RpbmcvZGI2ZDBmNjItNjYzZi00YTQ5LTkwMDQtNGJjNjIxMDg3NWQz0gEA?oc=5

2022-05-20 04:15:34Z
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