Early voting in the nation’s federal election opened yesterday with seven candidates contesting the federal lower house seat of Bendigo including several rival elements of Australia’s political far right.
Among them former Bendigo councillor Julie Hoskin – who many voters will recall from her failed legal challenge to a mosque being established in Bendigo – is standing for Senator Fraser Anning’s Conservative National Party in the marginal seat that’s currently held by Labor’s Lisa Chesters.
On Friday Ms Chesters’ Bendigo office confirmed that the Labor incumbent would be preferencing Ms Hoskin last.
And questions remain over Ms Hoskin’s eligibility to serve in Parliament at all as she was last year declared bankrupt and undischarged bankruptcy is grounds for disqualification from nomination for the Senate or House of Representatives under section 44 of the Constitution.
But despite the uncertainty over her eligibility Ms Hoskin will still appear on the ballot paper as a candidate for the House of Representatives following last week’s official candidate draw.
AEC state manager Steve Kennedy told the Midland Express that given that Ms Hoskin had declared herself as eligible on her nomination form, the AEC was required to accept her nomination.
“We don’t have the power to reject the nomination even though subsequent information may come to light,” Mr Kennedy said.
“The question about her eligibility is a matter for the courts.
“She has declared that she is eligible in her nomination form under section 44 of the Constitution.”
Questions around the potential impact on the status of Ms Hoskin’s preferences, should she be found ineligible, also remain unanswered with the AEC state manager stating that this too would be a matter for the Court of Disputed Returns to determine should Ms Hoskin’s eligibility be legally challenged.
Also contesting the seat of Bendigo in the upcoming May 18 poll is local doctor Dr Robert Holian standing for the Greens, with the Liberals putting forward engineer Sam Gayed whom has so far proven difficult to contact for comment or interview.
Businessman Vaughan Williams is Pauline Hanson’s One Nation endorsed candidate for the seat, with the United Australia Party represented by Adam Veitch and Sharon Budde standing for the Rise Up Australia Party. The Nationals have not fielded a candidate.
Meanwhile, the divisional returning officer for Bendigo said she expected between 36-40 per cent of voters in the electorate to vote early.
AEU public awareness officer Jessica Harrison said the closest pre-poll voting centre for Castlemaine and Kyneton voters was in the Castlemaine Town Hall in Lyttleton Street.
“Early voting is increasing,” Ms Harrison said.
