The Turnbull Government’s plan to ban the distribution of how-to-vote cards at elections is an attack on the fundamental principles of Australian democracy.
The only danger posed by how-to-vote cards is paper cuts.
Liberal MP Jason Wood says he has issues with how-to-vote cards being distributed by people who are “not a candidate, they’re not affiliated with a party but they just want to get involved”.
Unfortunately for Mr Wood, that’s called democracy.
Australia’s representative democracy is underpinned by a political system that fosters participation.We are blessed to live in a nation that allows grassroots involvement in the political process.
The ability to respectfully participate in the democratic process is as Australian as the Election Day sausage sizzle.
As parliamentarians we have a duty to foster greater involvement in the democratic process not stymy it.
All volunteers should of course behave appropriately and with respect at all times.
If Mr Wood has any evidence of election volunteers acting inappropriately, then he should bring it to the attention of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters.
It is astonishing that the Turnbull Government would seek to make it harder for Australians to participate in our democratic processes on Election Day.