05-03-2008, 09:02 PM
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Commentator
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Kangaroo Flat, Australia
Age: 24
Posts: 1,144
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For 'submarinepainter':
Quote:
Lift on prison inmate voting ban 'disappointing'
Posted Thu Aug 30, 2007 11:00pm AEST
The Special Minister of State, Gary Nairn, says he is disappointed the High Court has struck down Federal Government laws banning all prison inmates from voting.
In a majority ruling, the court overturned the laws passed by federal Parliament last year.
But earlier legislation which stops prisoners voting if they are serving three years or more in jail still stands.
Mr Nairn says the court is yet to reveal the reasons for its decision.
"The court has not accepted the amendment to the Electoral Act, but it has accepted that the pre-amendment law remains valid," he said.
"That means that prisoners serving sentences of three years or more still can't vote, so I'll be interested to see their rationale for that."
Labor's Alan Griffin has welcomed the court's decision, but is still worried about other changes to the Electoral Act, including the early closing of the roll when an election is called.
"The fact that it's been struck down I think sends a clear message to the Government, that they're acting over the top with some of the changes they made to the Electoral Act," he said.
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Yes, as of August last year, prisoners are allowed to vote.
Lift On Prison Voting Ban
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Last edited by Makedde; 05-03-2008 at 09:03 PM.
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