ALP continue to support their STOOGE

MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release - 15 March 2006


ALP's Special Fundraiser for their Stooge

"The revelation that the local Labor branch recently conducted a fundraiser for Cr. Mary Anne Lindsay supports the case against her in the Magistrates' Court last year", Tony Briffa, Convenor of Hobsons Bay Community First said. "Mary Anne Lindsay undoubtedly deceived and misled voters at the council election by claiming to be an independent candidate, although she really is an ALP stooge. Consequently, I will write to the Local Government Minister seeking an investigation into this matter on behalf of the applicant in the case; HBCF-supported independent candidate Mr Allsop."

"Cr. Lindsay was put up as a stooge candidate in the council election by the Labor branch to direct independent votes to the preferred Labor candidate. She continues to falsely claim she is an independent councillor despite the fact she is a long-standing member of the Labor Party, works as a Union official, is the domestic partner of a Labor Councillor, and is financially supported by Labor."

"The Labor Party would not provide financial and political support to Cr. Lindsay unless they were getting something back in return. The most obvious is the crucial 4th vote in the council chamber resulting in the Labor Party retaining control of the council. This is why her domestic partner and ALP colleague is the Mayor this year, and why Renee Caruana, another Labor Councillor, was Mayor last year. This is also why rates increased an incredible 8.9% last year."

Last year the Magistrates' Court heard that if only 67 voters were deceived and voted for Mary Anne Lindsay thinking she was an independent candidate, she would not have been elected. Despite the best efforts of Noel Allsop and HBCF, Her Honour Caitlin English determined that she had no doubt in the existence of the strategy in running dummy candidates, but that we did not have sufficient evidence to prove our case against Cr. Lindsay. (see notes below)

"This is significantly different from the Magistrate determining that Cr. Lindsay was innocent." Tony Briffa said. "The ALP also stood other stooges at the election which assisted in the election of Bill Baarini, Renee Caruana, and Carl Marsich."

"It's a pity HBCF wasn't aware of Labor Party fundraising efforts for Cr. Lindsay earlier. We only had 14 days to lodge an appeal so that has unfortunately expired. Nonetheless, Cr. Lindsay's position as a Councillor is completely untenable, and HBCF is calling for her immediate resignation."

"Significantly, the Magistrate also determined that as the case was genuine and not frivolous or vexatious, each party was to pay for their own legal costs. As Cr. Lindsay had two ALP solicitors representing her, I would be surprised if they sent her an invoice. Then again, her ratepayer-paid allowance of $18,000 per annum plus childcare and other expenses should be enough financial support without having to rely on funding from the Labor Party."

"Cr. Lindsay misled residents during the election, and she continues to mislead and deceive them", Noel Allsop, the HBCF-supported independent candidate for Altona North Ward said. "She has been supported by the Labor Party all along, and is not an independent. Why would the Labor Party hold fundraisers for an Independent Councillor? What do they want in return? More importantly, why would an Independent Councillor accept funds from the Labor Party?"

"Besides, Mary Anne Lindsay didn't have any election costs. She admitted in court that she was surprised to get elected as she didn't distribute any election material to residents, had no posters, no brochures and no policy launches." Noel Allsop said.




NOTES:

Her Honour, Magistrate Caitlin English, stated the following in her judgement dated 4 October 2005 in the case of Allsop V Lindsay:

"I have no doubt in the existence of the strategy of running dummy candidates, but there is insufficient evidence for Altona North ward for Mr Allsop to discharge the onus of proof, in the absence of direct evidence and Ms Lindsay's denials."