By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
GREENS and independent candidates in Paperbark Ward of Greater Dandenong Council say they are being crowded out of the contest by Labor rivals.
Greens’ Nina Springle said the preference system was “not particularly democratic” because “the ALP members have to preference ALP members before anyone else”. “That’s how the ALP dominate the council. It doesn’t inspire young [independent] leaders to get out and have a go.”
In the ward, there are four self-declared ALP-member candidates saturating the race for three council seats. In Red Gum, five ALP members are contesting three vacancies while in Lightwood Ward, six of the seven candidates are Labor members.
Independent candidate Brad Woodford said he was disappointed with the way the ALP had “handled things”. “I’ve really exceeded my expectations in how well my campaign has gone. But no matter how much I campaign, as an independent I’ll be defeated.”
Last week, Ms Springle abandoned her ‘open-ticket’ stance because she decided it would cost her too many votes. Her original how-to-vote cards advised supporters to choose their own preferences but they resulted in confusion.
Ms Springle said a ban on how-to-vote cards that instructed preferences would level the playing field and “put the responsibility back with the voter”. Independent Giorgio Migliaccio has simplified his how-to-vote card out of frustration with the preferential system, advocating a ‘reverse donkey’ vote.
“It’s brought about by the number of candidates in the field. It’s like branch stacking by the ALP — it disrespects what it’s all about.”
ALP-member candidate and incumbent Roz Blades said banning preferences from how-to-vote cards would create more informal votes. “You might be able to do that if there were just three or four candidates but you need them for a long field like this. It’s very mucky for voters.”
At the previous election in 2008, about 12 per cent of the ward’s voters cast incorrectly completed votes which weren’t counted.
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