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Posts tagged as “Mick Keelty”

Keelty Report On Lost Senate Votes Inconclusive But Says No Evidence Of Wrong-Doing

The report by former Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty into the missing Western Australian Senate ballot papers has found no evidence of deliberate wrong-doing but the mystery remains unsolved.

Keelty’s report says the AEC systems in place in W.A. made it difficult for him to reach a conclusive finding. He recommends a number of measures for storage and movement of ballots papers and for the disposal of other material during counting.

A reading of Keelty’s report suggests the possibility of accidental disposal and destruction of the ballot papers. Training and management of casual staff is also pinpointed.

Counting shows that the disappearance of 1,370 Senate ballot papers had the potential to alter the Senate result in WA. The AEC has itself petitioned the Court of Disputed Returns to void the result of the election. The case has not yet been heard but a new Senate election is expected in 2014.

  • Keelty’s report is shown below

Media release from the Australian Electoral Commission.

Keelty report released

The Australian Electoral Commission today released a report by Mr Mick Keelty AO inquiring into the circumstances of 1370 missing Western Australian Senate votes.

Keelty Begins Inquiry Into Missing Senate Votes

The former Federal Police Commissioner, Mick Keelty, has begun his inquiry into the missing Western Australian Senate ballot papers.

According to the Australian Electoral Commission, five members of staff are assisting Keelty.

Media release from the Australian Electoral Commission.

Australian Electoral Commission statement: Mr Mick Keelty AO APM commences inquiry

Yesterday Mr Mick Keelty AO APM commenced his inquiry into the circumstances of the missing ballot papers identified during the recent recount of Senate votes in Western Australia.

The inquiry will include identifying any administrative process and/or procedural failures that may have occurred as well as providing findings and recommendations to the Australian Electoral Commission.

Mr Keelty has been offered the full cooperation of the AEC in conducting his independent inquiry. Five Canberra-based AEC staff are currently assisting Mr Keelty with his inquiry, with further resourcing available should it be requested.

Mr Keelty is in Canberra this week receiving briefings from the AEC. He is expected to travel to Perth next week to progress the inquiry and is due to provide an interim report by the end of November.

Mr Keelty’s report will be considered by the full Electoral Commission, who will determine further actions after due consideration of the report’s findings and recommendations.

In the meantime, the AEC is presently considering its position in relation to a possible petition to the Court of Disputed Returns in relation to the WA Senate outcome.

Editor’s note: Mr Keelty is currently not available for interview. Further information will be provided as it becomes available.

Jakarta Australian Embassy Bombing: Party Leaders React

In the midst of the federal election campaign, Australia’s political leaders reacted to the bombing of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia.

A bomb inside a delivery van exploded outside the embassy in South Jakarta at 10.30am local time. It killed 9 people and wounded around 150 others.

The nearby Greek embassy was gutted by the blast and damage to the Chinese embassy was also reported.

Prime Minister John Howard and Opposition Leader Mark Latham spoke about the bombings. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, held a joint press conference with the head of the Australian Federal Police, Mick Keelty.

AustralianPolitics.com
Malcolm Farnsworth
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