Majority Party Could Lose In Vote Recount

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30643, 8 January 1965, Page 9

Majority Party Could Lose In Vote Recount

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

SYDNEY, January 7.

The full bench of the High Court, in a unanimous decision today, directed that a recount of all votes in the crucial Victorian Senate election proceed immediately.

The Court rejected an application by Mr F. P. McManus, the organising secretary of the Democratic Labour Party, for a resumption of counting in the election.

It said the reasons for - its decision would be published later. The D .L.P.’s application followed a decision by the Victorian electoral officer, Mr C. Lack, on December 24 to hold a recount At that time, voting in the election had placed the No. 3 Liberal candidate. Senator

Hannan, 249 votes behind the A.L.P. No. 3 candidate, Mr Sudholz. If Senator Hannan . had been eliminated in the election, his preferences would have ensured Mr McManus becoming the fifth senator from Victoria. This would give the D.L.P. two seats in the Senate and would mean that the Liberal-

Country Party did not have a majority in the Senate. If, in a recount, Senator Hannan could wipe out his 249 vote deficit, Mr Sudholz would be eliminated. Mr Sudholz’s preferences would then ensure Senator Hannan’s re-election. The Court was told yesterday there were 33 electoral divisions in Victoria and an average shift of four votes in each division would place Senator Hannan ahead of Mr Sudholz. The Tasmanian D.L.P. is considered certain to demand a fresh count of Senate votes after the court decision. D.L.P. officials said the State executive would be called together as soon as possible and was likely to approve a move for a fresh count.

D.L.P. officials believe a fresh count in Tasmania could give the defeated D.L.P. candidate, Senator Cole, the fifth seat.