IN THE HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA
SITTING AS THE COURT OF DISPUTED RETURNS
SYDNEY REGISTRY No. S237 of 2019
BETWEEN: Oliver Tennant Yates
Petitioner
and
Joshua Anthony Frydenberg
Respondent
ELECTION PETITION
This petition concerns the election for Kooyong in the election for the House of Representatives held on 18 May 2019.
RETURN OF WRIT
The writ for the election was returned on 21 June 2019.
ENTITLEMENT TO FILE THIS PETITION
The petitioner is entitled to file this petition because he was a candidate at the election in dispute.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
The election in dispute
5. The writ for the Kooyong Election was returned on 21 June 2019.
6. The relevant period in relation to the Kooyong Election was the period commencing on 11 April 2019 and expiring at 6pm, AEST, on Polling Day, being the latest time on Polling Day at which an elector in Kooyong could enter a polling booth for the purpose of casting a vote (Relevant Period).
The Australian Electoral Commission
7. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is an independent statutory authority of the Commonwealth of Australia.
8. The AEC states, on its website, that its purpose is to “Maintain an impartial and independent electoral system for eligible voters through active electoral roll management, efficient delivery of polling services and targeted education and public awareness programs”. The AEC’s functions and powers are set out in section 7 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (Cth) (the Act).
9. During the Relevant Period, the AEC used a purple and white colour scheme on its official materials, including but not limited to its website www.aec.gov.au, its published Official Guide to the Election, and signs and banners displayed at polling and pre-polling booths.
10. On Polling Day, the AEC had signs and/or banners displayed at the entrance(s) to a polling place. An example is shown in the photograph reproduced at Annexure A. (Also shown in that photograph is an image of a corflute (Corflute), affixed to a fence immediately to the left of the AEC banner.)
The Divisions of Kooyong and Chisholm
Kooyong
11. The Division of Kooyong is located in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. It covers an area of approximately 55 sq km stretching from Kew and Hawthorn in the west to Balwyn and Canterbury in the east, and from Balwyn North in the north to Hawthorn East and Camberwell in the south. Kooyong suburbs include Balwyn, Balwyn North, Camberwell, Canterbury, Deepdene, Hawthorn, Hawthorn East, Kew, Kew East, Mont Albert, Mont Albert North and Surrey Hills (part). Reproduced at Annexure B is a map for the Division of Kooyong at the Election.
12. The candidates for the Kooyong Election were:
Chisholm
14. The Division of Chisholm is located in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. It covers an area of approximately 65 sq km stretching from Chadstone and Ashwood in the west to Glen Waverley in the east, and from Box Hill North and Blackburn North in the north to Mount Waverley in the south. Chisholm suburbs include Ashwood, Blackburn, Blackburn South, Box Hill, Box Hill North, Box Hill South, Burwood, Burwood East, Chadstone, Forest Hill, Glen Waverley, Mount Waverley, Nunawading and Surrey Hills (part). Reproduced at Annexure D is a map for the Division of Chisholm at the Election.
15. The candidates for Chisholm at the Election were:
Shared boundaries
20. The Division of Kooyong and the Division of Chisholm are adjacent to one another.
Demographic characteristics of Kooyong and of Chisholm
22. The Division of Chisholm has a higher percentage of individuals (compared to the remainder of Greater Melbourne, Victoria and Australia) who speak Mandarin or Cantonese at home and, accordingly, are likely to read Chinese.
23. The 2016 census conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) recorded the following data for the Division of Kooyong:
Characteristic of the Division | Percentage | Raw data |
Total population | N/A | 127,993 |
Language other than English spoken at home (Mandarin) | 8.6% | 12,517 |
Language other than English spoken at home (Cantonese) | 3.2% | 4,605
|
Country of birth – China [excludes SARs, of which Hong Kong is one, and Taiwan] | 6.9% | 10,064 |
Country of birth of mother – China | 9.5% | 13,825 |
Country of birth of father – China | 9.6% | 13,936 |
Ancestry – China | 11.6% | 22,810 |
24. The 2016 census conducted by the ABS recorded the following data for the Division of Chisholm:
Characteristic | Percentage | Raw data |
Total population | N/A | 164,433 |
Language other than English spoken at home (Mandarin) | 15.6% | 25,717 |
Language other than English spoken at home (Cantonese) | 4.8% | 7,927 |
Country of birth – China [excludes SARs, of which Hong Kong is one, and Taiwan] | 14.2% | 23,313 |
Country of birth of mother – China | 17.4% | 28,605 |
Country of birth of father – China | 17.4% | 28,581 |
Ancestry – China | 19.7% | 40,883 |
25. The Greater Melbourne statistical area for the 2016 Census extends across the urban area of the city, from Bacchus Marsh/Werribee in the west to Warburton and Koo Wee Rup in the east, and from Lancefield in the north to Shoreham in the south. It includes the Divisions of Kooyong and Chisholm.
26. The 2016 census conducted by the ABS recorded the following data for Greater Melbourne, Victoria and Australia:
Characteristic | Greater Melbourne | Victoria | Australia |
Total population | 4,485,211 | 5,926,624 | 23,401,892 |
Language other than English spoken at home (Mandarin) | 4.1% | 3.2% | 2.5% |
Language other than English spoken at home (Cantonese) | 1.7% | 1.3% | 1.2% |
28. The petitioner is not aware of any matter likely to have caused a deviation in the above trend in the Division of Kooyong, in the period from 10 May 2016 (Census Day for 2016) to Close of Rolls.
29. The trend in the Division of Chisholm, since at least 2006, has been an increase in the number of individuals who speak Mandarin or Cantonese at home, both in absolute numbers and in percentages.
Voting on Polling Day
31. On Polling Day, an elector enrolled to vote for Kooyong was able to vote:
The characteristics of the Corflutes and its publication
33. The Corflute displays white and purple Chinese characters on a purple and white background.
34. The Corflute uses the same colour scheme as was used by the AEC during the Relevant Period.
35. Translated in English, the Corflute reads:
“Correct voting method
On the green ballot paper, put 1 next to the Liberal Party candidate
And in the other boxes, fill in the numbers in sequence, from small to big”
or alternatively:
“The right way to vote:
On the green ballot paper
fill in 1 next to the candidate of Liberal Party
and fill in the numbers from smallest to largest
in the rest of the boxes”
or alternatively:
“The correct way to vote:
Fill in 1 next to the Liberal Party candidate on the green ballot and fill in numbers from small to large successively in other boxes”
Certified translations of the Corflute are at Annexure F.
36. The Corflute could be understood by both Mandarin and Cantonese speakers.
37. The Corflute also included the following English text, which was printed in very small font, white in colour, on a background of a purple stripe at the bottom: “Authorised by Simon Frost, Registered Officer of the Liberal Party of Australia (Victoria Division), 104 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000” (the Authorisation).
38. Simon Frost was:
(jointly and severally, the Conduct).
44. The Publication Conduct occurred in Kooyong.
Particulars
The Corflute was published at least at the following polling places:
Further particulars may be provided prior to hearing.
45. The Publication Conduct also occurred in Chisholm.
Particulars
The Corflute was published at least at the following polling places:
Further particulars may be provided prior to hearing.
FRYDENBERG
46. FRYDENBERG:
The Corflute was likely to mislead or deceive
50. Each of the following was an illegal practice within the meaning of s 352 of the Act:
(collectively, the Illegal Practices).
The AEC refuses to act
51. On Polling Day, representatives for the petitioner told the AEC that:
Electoral results
54. The system of preferential voting for the Kooyong Election operated as follows:
Application of the subsection
60. It is to be inferred that the Conduct, and particularly the Publication Conduct, was done with the knowledge or authority of the candidate FRYDENBERG, within the meaning of section 362(3)(a) of the Act.
61. The FRYDENBERG Conduct was done with the knowledge or authority of the candidate FRYDENBERG, within the meaning of section 362(3)(a) of the Act.
Relevant matters should the subsection apply
62. By reason of the matters in paragraphs 21–30 above, it is to be inferred that a significant number of electors in the Kooyong Election were able to read Chinese writing, or knew someone (for example, a family member) able to do so.
63. By reason of the matters in paragraphs 31 and 33–45 above, it is to be inferred that the Corflute was read by persons (including electors for the Kooyong Election) who were able to read Chinese writing and who voted in the Kooyong Election on Polling Day.
64. Further, it is to be inferred, from the occurrence of the Conduct, the Publication Conduct and the FRYDENBERG Conduct, that Simon Frost and/or FRYDENBERG and/or other persons associated with the Liberal Party considered that the demographics of Kooyong warranted engaging in that conduct, for the purpose of affecting the result of the Kooyong Election.
65. In the premises, it is likely that ordinary and absentee votes in the Kooyong Election were cast by electors who:
(the Directed Votes).
66. A Directed Vote counted towards FRYDENBERG’s First Preference Count, with the result that:
RELIEF
The petitioner asks the Court to make the following orders:
(a) A declaration that the Conduct was an illegal practice.
(b) Additionally or alternatively to (a), a declaration that the Publication Conduct was an illegal practice.
(c) Additionally or alternatively to (a) and (b), a declaration that the Publication Conduct in Kooyong was an illegal practice.
(d) A declaration that the FRYDENBERG Conduct was an illegal practice.
(e) A declaration that Simon Frost committed an illegal practice.
(f) A declaration that FRYDENBERG committed an illegal practice.
(g) A declaration that FRYDENBERG was not duly elected.
(h) Additionally or alternatively to (g), a declaration that the Kooyong Election is absolutely void.
(i) The Respondent pay the petitioner’s costs.
(j) Alternatively to (i), the Commonwealth pay the petitioner’s costs.
DATED
........................................
Oliver Tennant Yates
IN THE PRESENCE OF:
………………………........ .........................
Signed by Witness Signed by Witness
.................. .........................
Name of Witness Name of Witness
.................. .........................
Occupation of Witness Occupation of Witness
.................. .........................
Address of Witness Address of Witness
TO: Joshua Anthony Frydenberg
THE RESPONDENT
695 Burke Road
Camberwell, VIC, 3124
The petitioner’s address for service is c/o Marque Lawyers, Level 4, 343 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000.
Annexure A
Photograph by Maryam Williams, captured at Tally Ho polling place, Burwood East Primary School Photograph by Maryam Williams, captured at Tally Ho polling place, Burwood East Primary School
Photograph by Maryam Williams, captured at Tally Ho polling place, Burwood East Primary School.
Annexure B
Kooyong Map
Annexure C
Kooyong Polling Places
Polling place | Street address |
Hawthorn Citizens Youth Club, 241 Auburn Rd, HAWTHORN VIC 3122 | |
Auburn Primary School, Rathmines Rd, HAWTHORN EAST VIC 3123 | |
Auburn South Primary School, 419 Tooronga Rd, HAWTHORN EAST VIC 3123 | |
Balwyn Primary School, 86B Balwyn Rd, BALWYN VIC 3103 | |
Church of Christ Hall, 208 Whitehorse Rd, BALWYN VIC 3103 | |
Balwyn North Primary School, 40 Buchanan Ave, BALWYN NORTH VIC 3104 | |
Bellevue Primary School, 20 Highview Rd, BALWYN NORTH VIC 3104 | |
New Hope Community Centre, 3 Springfield Rd, BLACKBURN NORTH VIC 3130 | |
BLV Kooyong, 695 Burke Rd, CAMBERWELL VIC 3124 | |
Boroondara Park Primary School, 40 Almond St, BALWYN NORTH VIC 3104 | |
Camberwell Primary School, 290 Camberwell Rd, CAMBERWELL VIC 3124 | |
Canterbury Presbyterian Church, 146 Canterbury Rd, CANTERBURY VIC 3126 | |
Camberwell Church of Christ, 620 Riversdale Rd, CAMBERWELL VIC 3124 | |
Habitat Uniting Church, 1 Mont Albert Rd, CANTERBURY VIC 3126 | |
Camberwell South Primary School, 4 Peate Ave, GLEN IRIS VIC 3146 | |
Chatham Primary School, 47a Weybridge St, SURREY HILLS VIC 3127 | |
Camberwell High School, 100A Prospect Hill Rd, CANTERBURY VIC 3126 | |
Canterbury Primary School, 197 Prospect Hill Rd, CANTERBURY VIC 3126 | |
Genazzano FCJ College, 301 Cotham Rd, KEW VIC 3101 | |
Our Lady of Good Counsel Primary School, 12 Whitehorse Rd, DEEPDENE VIC 3103 | |
Divisional Office, Suite 1, Level 2, 695 Burke Rd, CAMBERWELL VIC 3124 | |
Our Lady's Primary School, 31 Erasmus St, SURREY HILLS VIC 3127 | |
Swinburne University - Atrium, John St, HAWTHORN VIC 3122 | |
Glenferrie Primary School, 78-98 Manningtree Rd, HAWTHORN VIC 3122 | |
Kennon Memorial Hall, 464 Glenferrie Rd, HAWTHORN VIC 3122 | |
Greythorn Primary School, 124 Greythorn Rd, BALWYN NORTH VIC 3104 | |
Hartwell Primary School, 4 Milverton St, CAMBERWELL VIC 3124 | |
Christ Church Memorial Hall, 2 Denham St, HAWTHORN VIC 3122 | |
544 Burwood Rd, 544 Burwood Rd, HAWTHORN VIC 3122 | |
St Dominic's Catholic School, 145 Highfield Rd, CAMBERWELL VIC 3124 | |
First Kew Scout Hall, 177 Willsmere Rd, KEW VIC 3101 | |
Kew Primary School, 20 Peel St, KEW VIC 3101 | |
Kew East Uniting Church Hall, 142 Normanby Rd, KEW EAST VIC 3102 | |
Kew East Primary School, 35 Kitchener St, KEW EAST VIC 3102 | |
Methodist Ladies' College, 207 Barkers Rd, KEW VIC 3101 | |
Koonung Secondary College, 615 Elgar Rd, BOX HILL NORTH VIC 3129 | |
St George's Church Hall, 296 Glenferrie Rd, MALVERN VIC 3144 | |
215 Spring St, MELBOURNE VIC 3000 | |
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Convention Centre Pl, SOUTHBANK VIC 3006 | |
215 Spring St, 215 Spring St, MELBOURNE VIC 3000 | |
Mont Albert North Scout Hall, 23 Boondara Rd, MONT ALBERT NORTH VIC 3129 | |
Multiple sites, VIC | |
Multiple sites, VIC | |
Multiple sites, VIC | |
Multiple sites, VIC | |
Xavier College (Burke Hall Campus), 2 Nolan Ave, KEW VIC 3101 | |
Surrey Hills Uniting Church Hall, 679 Canterbury Rd, SURREY HILLS VIC 3127 | |
Holy Trinity Church Hall, 77 Union Rd, SURREY HILLS VIC 3127 |
Annexure D
Chisholm Map
Annexure E
Chisholm Polling Places
Polling place | Street address |
Ashwood High School, 50 Vannam Dr, ASHWOOD VIC 3147 | |
St Scholastica's Primary School, 4-8 Starling St, BURWOOD VIC 3125 | |
Field Naturalists Hall, 1 Gardenia St, BLACKBURN VIC 3130 | |
Blackburn Lake Primary School, Florence St, BLACKBURN VIC 3130 | |
Blackburn Primary School, 185 Surrey Rd, BLACKBURN VIC 3130 | |
New Hope Community Centre, 3 Springfield Rd, BLACKBURN NORTH VIC 3130 | |
St Luke's Primary School, 46 Orchard Gr, BLACKBURN SOUTH VIC 3130 | |
Old Orchard Primary School, 70 Koonung Rd, BLACKBURN NORTH VIC 3130 | |
Blackburn High School, 60 Springfield Rd, BLACKBURN NORTH VIC 3130 | |
BLV Chisholm, 1st Floor, 41-43 Ringwood St, RINGWOOD VIC 3134 | |
St Peter's Anglican Church Hall, 1038 Whitehorse Rd, BOX HILL VIC 3128 | |
Wesley Hall, 2-6 Oxford St, BOX HILL VIC 3128 | |
Roberts McCubbin Primary School, 57 Birdwood St, BOX HILL SOUTH VIC 3128 | |
Glen Waverley South Primary School, 83 Watsons Rd, GLEN WAVERLEY VIC 3150 | |
St Benedict's Parish Church Hall, 3-9 Central Ave, BURWOOD VIC 3125 | |
Burwood Heights Primary School, cnr Mahoneys Rd & Hawthorn Rd, BURWOOD EAST VIC 3151 | |
Camelot Rise Primary School, Galahad Cres, GLEN WAVERLEY VIC 3150 | |
St Mary Magdalen's Primary School, 15 Bambil St, CHADSTONE VIC 3148 | |
Divisional Office, 1st Floor, 41-43 Ringwood St, RINGWOOD VIC 3134 | |
Blackburn English Language School, 120 Eley Rd, BURWOOD EAST VIC 3151 | |
Our Lady's Primary School, 31 Erasmus St, SURREY HILLS VIC 3127 | |
Essex Heights Primary School, 22-30 Essex Rd, MT WAVERLEY VIC 3149 | |
Holbury Children's Centre, 29 Raleigh St, BLACKBURN SOUTH VIC 3130 | |
Glendal Primary School, 55 Nottingham St, GLEN WAVERLEY VIC 3150 | |
Glen Waverley Primary School, 774 High Street Rd, GLEN WAVERLEY VIC 3150 | |
Highvale Primary School, 33 Ashton St, GLEN WAVERLEY VIC 3150 | |
Kerrimuir Primary School, Molbray St, BOX HILL NORTH VIC 3129 | |
Koonung Secondary College, 615 Elgar Rd, BOX HILL NORTH VIC 3129 | |
Laburnum Primary School, Janet St, BLACKBURN VIC 3130 | |
Burwood East Special Development School, 18 Manooka St, BURWOOD EAST VIC 3151 | |
215 Spring St, MELBOURNE VIC 3000 | |
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Convention Centre Pl, SOUTHBANK VIC 3006 | |
215 Spring St, 215 Spring St, MELBOURNE VIC 3000 | |
Mt View Primary School, cnr Gallaghers Rd & Shepherd Rd, GLEN WAVERLEY VIC 3150 | |
Holy Family Parish, 234 Stephensons Rd, MOUNT WAVERLEY VIC 3149 | |
Holy Family Parish, 236 Stephensons Rd, MOUNT WAVERLEY VIC 3149 | |
Mt Waverley Primary School, 37-45 Park Lane, MT WAVERLEY VIC 3149 | |
14/12-14 Miles St, 14/12-14 Miles St, MULGRAVE VIC 3170 | |
Pinewood Primary School, 27 Pinewood Dr, MT WAVERLEY VIC 3149 | |
Ringwood Bowls Club, 2/12 Loughnan Rd, RINGWOOD NORTH VIC 3134 | |
Multiple sites, VIC | |
Multiple sites, VIC | |
Whitehorse Primary School, 70-86 Junction Rd, BLACKBURN NORTH VIC 3130 | |
Surrey Hills Uniting Church Hall, 679 Canterbury Rd, SURREY HILLS VIC 3127 | |
Mt Waverley North Primary School, Marcus Ave, MT WAVERLEY VIC 3149 | |
Syndal South Primary School, 14 Montgomery Ave, MT WAVERLEY VIC 3149 | |
Burwood East Primary School, cnr Highbury Rd & Blackburn Rd, BURWOOD EAST VIC 3151 | |
Glen Waverley Secondary College, 13-21 O'Sullivan Rd, GLEN WAVERLEY VIC 3150 | |
Box Hill North Primary School, Elizabeth St, BOX HILL NORTH VIC 3129 | |
Box Hill South Family Centre, 1228A Riversdale Rd, BOX HILL SOUTH VIC 3128 | |
Mt Waverley College Senior Campus, Lechte Rd, MT WAVERLEY VIC 3149 | |
St Leonard's Church Hall, 349 Springvale Rd, GLEN WAVERLEY VIC 3150 |
Annexure F
Certified Translations
Annexure G
Kooyong – First Preference Vote Count
Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
D'ELIA, Steven | United Australia Party | 1,185 | 1.20 |
YATES, Oliver | Independent | 8,890 | 8.98 |
ZUBAC, Angelina | Independent | 539 | 0.54 |
FRYDENBERG, Josh | Liberal | 48,928 | 49.41 |
STEWART, Jana | Australian Labor Party | 16,666 | 16.83 |
HINKLEY, Davina | Animal Justice Party | 1,117 | 1.13 |
BURNSIDE, Julian | The Greens (VIC) | 21,035 | 21.24 |
CHANDLER, Bill | Independent | 669 | 0.68 |
...... | Family First Party | 0 | 0.00 |
...... | Rise Up Australia Party | 0 | 0.00 |
Formal |
| 99,029 | 97.03 |
Informal |
| 3,033 | 2.97 |
Total |
| 102,062 |
|
Annexure H
Kooyong - Two Candidate Preferred Result
Candidate | Party | Votes | Margin | This election (%) | Status |
FRYDENBERG, Josh | Liberal | 55,159 | 11,289 | 55.70 | Re-elected |
BURNSIDE, Julian | The Greens (VIC) | 43,870 | -11,289 | 44.30 |
|