The Shepherdson Inquiry
The Shepherdson Inquiry (available in its entirety here) was prompted when a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), Karen Lynn Ehrmann, made serious public allegations about the possibility of electoral fraud by members of the Queensland branch of the ALP. The Criminal Justice Commission investigated and the Inquiry headed by the Hon Tom Shepherdson QC was started.
Honourable Tom F Shepherdson, QC
“I heard evidence from various persons, notably Karen Ehrmann, Grant Musgrove, Lee Bermingham and Warwick Powell, to the effect that engaging in this practice was part of a ‘culture’ within at least some factions of the ALP”.
Karen Lynn Ehrmann
Former Councillor for the Townsville City Council who pleaded guilty to 47 charges relating to forged electoral enrolment forms. She alleged that she was a ‘bit player’ in a wider ALP scheme to indulge in such conduct.
Andrew James Kehoe and Shane John Foster
Pleaded guilty to 10 charges of forging electoral enrolment forms relating to the 1996 plebiscite for Townsville, they were found guilty and sentenced.
Jim Elder, Deputy Premier under the Beattie Administration.
According to Elder, for years various members of his ‘close’ family had been showing him support by filling out false enrolment forms, which were then lodged with the relevant electoral commission. His family members were also enabled to vote at local, state and federal elections in electorates or wards in which they had no lawful entitlement to vote.
Mike Kaiser a Qld MP and State secretary of the ALP 2000-2001
Kaiser admitted signing an electoral enrolment form 7/1/86 at an address where he had never lived. Elder was found to have people recorded as living at his address who were not living there to enable additional illegal votes. Both were allowed to resign from the Qld Parliament with no prosecutions.
Joan Budd, General Returning Officer of the ALP 1988-2000
Ms Budd told the Shepherdson Inquiry that it was an 'unwritten law for everyone in the Queensland ALP to falsely enrol their families for support in elections', insisting the practice was 'rife'.
Honourable Tom F Shepherdson, QC
“I heard evidence from various persons, notably Karen Ehrmann, Grant Musgrove, Lee Bermingham and Warwick Powell, to the effect that engaging in this practice was part of a ‘culture’ within at least some factions of the ALP”.
Karen Lynn Ehrmann
Former Councillor for the Townsville City Council who pleaded guilty to 47 charges relating to forged electoral enrolment forms. She alleged that she was a ‘bit player’ in a wider ALP scheme to indulge in such conduct.
Andrew James Kehoe and Shane John Foster
Pleaded guilty to 10 charges of forging electoral enrolment forms relating to the 1996 plebiscite for Townsville, they were found guilty and sentenced.
Jim Elder, Deputy Premier under the Beattie Administration.
According to Elder, for years various members of his ‘close’ family had been showing him support by filling out false enrolment forms, which were then lodged with the relevant electoral commission. His family members were also enabled to vote at local, state and federal elections in electorates or wards in which they had no lawful entitlement to vote.
Mike Kaiser a Qld MP and State secretary of the ALP 2000-2001
Kaiser admitted signing an electoral enrolment form 7/1/86 at an address where he had never lived. Elder was found to have people recorded as living at his address who were not living there to enable additional illegal votes. Both were allowed to resign from the Qld Parliament with no prosecutions.
Joan Budd, General Returning Officer of the ALP 1988-2000
Ms Budd told the Shepherdson Inquiry that it was an 'unwritten law for everyone in the Queensland ALP to falsely enrol their families for support in elections', insisting the practice was 'rife'.
