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Clive Palmer before he resigned from parliament ahead of the 2016 federal election
Image: Huffington Post |
Mining billionaire Clive Palmer may be back onto the Forbes Australian Rich List and currently attempting to 'buy' his way into the Senate on 18 May 2019, but the High Court of Australia is unimpressed by his latest legal foray.
The Court unanimously dismissed Clive Palmer's application with reasons to be given at a later date.
Clive Palmer's attempt to delay the publication of early results on federal
election night has been shot down by the High Court.
Mr Palmer wanted the
detailed data kept quiet until all polling booths had closed, lest last-minute
crowds in far-flung locations be swayed by the results.
He was concerned West
Australian voters who left their run until the last two hours could be
influenced by early figures from the eastern states.
But the full bench of
the High Court ruled the Australian Electoral Commission does not need to wait
for stragglers in WA before broadcasting indications in east coast seats.
"The court is
unanimous in its view that the application should be dismissed," Chief
Justice Susan Kiefel said on Tuesday…..
Mr Palmer's case takes
aim at the AEC's two-candidate preferred counting practice.
This is used on election
night to give an early indication of results.
But the two candidates
listed are almost always from Labor and the coalition, rather than the minor
parties or independents. But the two candidates listed are almost always from
Labor and the coalition, rather than the minor parties or independents…….
Solicitor-General
Stephen Donaghue downplayed the potential "bandwagon" effect.
Mr Donaghue said
last-minute voters in WA voters could be influenced by many other factors,
including basic voting figures and exit polls.
He also argued the
federal election was not a presidential race, with people in WA voting for
different local candidates than those on the east coast.
Palmer's United Australia Party is said to be standing candidates in every federal electorate and for Senate positions in every state.
The
Guardian
reported on 1 May 2019 that almost 40% of all United Australia party candidates
do not live in the electorates they are standing for and, the party has
recruited senior executives from Clive Palmer’s mining interests to fill its
ranks.
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