Greens to appeal decision not to recount WA votes for Senate

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/03/greens-appeal-wa-senate-loss

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The Greens will appeal a decision by the Australian Electoral Commission not to recount the 1.3m Senate votes in Western Australia.

The Greens senator Scott Ludlam and Australian Sports party candidate Wayne Dropulich requested the recount after initial results saw Ludlam dumped in favour of the Palmer United party candidate Zhenya Wang.

But the commission announced on Thursday that the recount had been declined because it "did not identify any specific issues which would have warranted the conduct of a recount".

"Mr Dropulich and Senator Ludlam have the option of appealing the decision to the AEC electoral commissioner under section 278 (2) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 before the declaration of the poll."

The formal declaration of the poll for the WA Senate election has been rescheduled for 11.30am on Friday.

After the decision, Ludlam said he would appeal to the electoral commissioner as the result showed a difference between the respective parties at last count of just 14 votes.<br /> <br />"There have been Senate vote recounts both in this state and other jurisdictions when the margin has been far greater, and in more than one occasion those recounts have led to a different result," Ludlam said.<br /> <br />"In such a marginal decision, with such important consequences for two Senate seats, only a recount can ensure that the votes receive the scrutiny needed to exclude human error.<br /> <br />"As none of the elected senators will be required to take their seats in the Senate before 1 July 2014, there is time to ensure the result is correct."

As the 2014 Senate result now stands, the Coalition has 33 senators, Labor, 26, Greens, 9, Palmer United party, 3, with five independents or microparties for a total of 76.

A total of 39 votes are required to pass legislation.

A recount continues in the lower house seat of Fairfax, between the Palmer United party leader, Clive Palmer, and the Liberal candidate, Ted O'Brien.

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