Bob Katter’s political party wants more than 2 million Queensland ballot papers shredded and reprinted because his name does not appear on them.
Katter’s Australian Party is contesting 76 of the 89 seats at the Queensland election on March 24.
The party is fuming over a decision by the Queensland Electoral Commission to use its abbreviated name, The Australian Party, on ballot papers.
The party has gone to the Queensland Supreme Court in a bid to have the papers reprinted so candidates are listed under the name Katter’s Australian Party (Qld Division).
“Katter’s Australian Party (Qld Division), being the registered name of the party, should not be prohibited from appearing on the ballot paper,” the party said in a statement on Thursday.
But the ABC’s election commentator Antony Green says the Electoral Act is very clear about the use of abbreviations on ballot papers.
He said the party applied in December to have the name The Australian Party registered as an abbreviation for Katter’s Australian Party.
“That was accepted on the 30th of January. There is an abbreviation and it’s clearly set out in the Act that that will be used on the ballot papers,” he told the broadcaster.
Mr Katter, a federal MP, is relying on the political equity in the Katter family name to help it win some seats in the Queensland parliament later this month.
At a recent gathering of candidates, he told them:
“The first thing you have got to get people to say is who is that bloke or who is that sheila? I’m one of your weapons.”
Mr Katter is campaigning alongside candidates on the Gold Coast on Friday.
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