Fresh concerns council election could be tainted by voter fraud
New allegations of forged enrolments in a 2022 council election have been raised, a week before voting materials are due to be mailed out for a supplementary election.
Local Government Minister Joe Szakacs intends to introduce a bill to Parliament to strengthen local government elections by the end of this year, but no changes will be made ahead of the Central Ward by-election this month.
This comes after Adelaide’s Deputy Lord Mayor Phillip Martin urgently wrote to the Attorney General on Monday with concerns that potential illegal voting could happen again in this month’s City of Adelaide Central Ward election.
InDaily put questions to the Attorney General and the Local Government Minister, who was also sent the letter, asking if action would be taken to investigate the claims or reform election legislation.
A government spokesperson said improper or illegal behaviour is a matter for an independent body.
“I encourage any person with concerns or allegations of improper or illegal behaviour in a local government election to alert the independent Electoral Commissioner,” the spokesperson said.
“It is essential that, if necessary, these are investigated and dealt with by a body that is independent, be that the Electoral Commissioner, SAPOL, or the Court of Disputed Returns.”
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The Central Ward by-election was prompted when a judge voided four council appointments from the 2022 election due to the court finding illegal ballot handling.
Martin’s letter said he received information about enrolments and voter declaration forms from 2022 that “appear to have been forged by individuals” and were not raised in the long-running court case investigating illegal ballot practices.
Martin did not name those accused of alleged forgeries in the letter and did not sign off using his Deputy Lord Mayor title.
“I emphasise this information has not previously been made public, was not placed before the Court of Disputed Returns and, therefore, I am concerned about the potential for a further legal challenge or challenges – especially in circumstances where the election of candidates next month may be determined by a handful of votes,” the letter read.
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The new evidence of forgeries has not been made public and has not been shared with InDaily. Martin wrote he would make all the relevant information available to the Attorney General should he direct an investigation.
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In 2022, the last council election period, the Electoral Commission received 570 complaints about alleged breaches of electoral law, according to a report tabled in parliament in April.
InDaily asked the Minister if he intended to implement the commissioner’s recommendations and if it would be appropriate to do so with rushed legislation, given the timing of the upcoming by-election.
“The Minister is considering all recommendations made by the Electoral Commissioner in the 2022 Council Election Report, released in April 2025, for strengthening local government elections, with an intention to have a bill in Parliament before the end of the year,” a government spokesperson said.
In the report, the Electoral Commissioner made 19 recommendations to improve local government elections, including updating legislation so ballot envelopes without the correct date of birth filled in are rejected.
When asked if the Adelaide City Council supports the Commissioner’s recommendations being implemented, CEO Michael Sedgman said the “council supports all efforts being made to strengthen voter authenticity”.
The CEO said the council and the Electoral Commission have taken steps to ensure the upcoming by-election is carried out legally and democratically.
“Prior to close of the voters roll on 30 May 2025, Council committed significant resources and time to verification activities to ensure the accuracy and currency of the Council’s supplementary roll,” Sedgman said.
Martin’s letter also raised concerns about community trust in the election process and the involvement of political parties in local government.
“I raise these matters with you because of the Malinauskas Government’s demonstrated commitment to election reform through initiatives such as changes to campaign donations, I assure you of my good faith in raising these matters,” the letter read.
“I have raised them publicly on the eve of the issue of ballot papers for the Central Ward elections in the hope that you will consider the possibility of a further investigation in the interests of justice and to, hopefully, deter illegal behaviours.”
Candidates have been announced for the by-election and ballots are due to be mailed out on July 29, ahead of voting closing on August 25.
The next round of general council elections is due in November 2026.
