WEEK NINE, SEMESTER ONE, 2025
THE FEDERAL ELECTION
THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING
Rev Prof Michael Tate AO PP
Rev Prof Tate received a Bachelor of Laws (First Class) from the University of Tasmania in 1968. After which he gained a Master of Arts in Theology from the University of Oxford in 1971 He later went on to be a Labor Party Senator from 1978 to 1993 and held the porfolio of Minister for Justice from 1987 to 1993 He was also the Dean of the Law faculty here at UTAS from 1977 to 1978
The other day I was walking along Salamanca Place when I noticed the Premier walking by, mobile in hand. I could not help but think “How fantastic that the leader of government can walk around without police hovering in the vicinity”.
We don’t celebrate often enough the fact that we live in a peaceful democracy where violence does not determine who governs. We will go to the polls on the 3 of May without fear of intimidation, or that the ballot boxes will be adulterated with false ballot papers or even stolen.
Of course, there will be some grumbling because voting is compulsory (I think uniquely to Australia) But this has the good effect that political parties with any hope of forming government have to appeal to the “centre” We might contrast the United States where both major parties campaign with extreme policies in order to galvanise their support base to even bother to come out and vote
By the way, compulsory voting was introduced at the federal level in 1924 so that the legal obligation to vote would override employment contracts whereby employers could require their employees to work during polling hours
Of course, you might concede that all the above is true but nevertheless be feeling disillusioned and lukewarm about trundling along to the local hall in order to vote
But the fact is that if you are disillusioned because there is no candidate pushing a cause about which you feel passionately, abstaining from voting or casting an invalid vote won’t much help the situation
To be autobiographical for a moment. I remember when I was lecturing in law at UTAS, my third year constitutional law students were of an age (20) where they could be conscripted to serve in the armed forces for the Vietnam war. The method of selecting conscripts was to put 180 birthdates in a barrel and then a sufficient number would be drawn out to provide for that cohort of recruits.
I remember sitting around the big radiogram in the lounge area at St John Fisher College whilst the birthdates were being called out from a studio in Melbourne. I vividly recall seeing the blood drained from the face of one of my students and I realised that his birthdate had been called. He would have to serve despite the fact that, as I knew, he had a deep-seated moral objection to fighting in that
particular war. Only general conscientious objection to all war at any time was accepted as a ground for exemption from military service.
I then and there resolved to do something about it. I joined the Labour Party which was opposed to Australia’s involvement in that war and, as they say, the rest is history. in my inaugural speech in the Senate in 1978 I said my aim was to change the law to allow for conscientious objection to a particular war. It took till 1992, after 15 years of lobbying, to get that law changed. My point here is that, whilst you are being asked to vote in this particular federal election and thereafter every three years, it may well take endurance and political stamina over a period of time to secure the change you want
But isn’t that better than wallowing in disillusion or indifference?
What is it that you feel passionately needs to change in Australian society, or in Australia’s relationships to the world? Find a person or a political party most likely to help advance the achievement of your cause and vote accordingly
You will be exercising a right denied to most people in most nations on this little planet Earth Then you can recite with integrity the pledge of loyalty which new citizens make, (and which I wrote in 1992),
I pledge my loyalty [under God] to Australia and its people Whose democratic values I share Whose rights and liberties I respect And whose laws I will uphold and obey.
Voting on the 3 of May makes that pledge come true for you and for Australian society generally.
Whatthefuckis preferentialvoting?!
AUSTRALIA’S VOTING SYSTEM AND HOW IT WORKS
It’s tricky and confusing and leaves you wondering if you even did it right No, we’re not talking about your first time, we’re talking about the voting system
In Australia we use a voting system called ‘preferential voting’ While it can be confusing, it does actually have numerous benefits The way that federal elections are conducted is different to the way they are in Tassie (the HareClark system) So while you might have voted last year in the state election, this time around will be a little different
Australian Parliament is split up into two groups The Upper House, also referred to as the Senate, and the Lower House, The House of Representatives The Lower House is comprised of MPs that represents specific electorates Electorates operate kind of like suburbs While they often can be made up of multiple suburbs, they’re a geographical area
When candidates run they choose to either be endorsed by a political party or to run as an Independent (not affiliated with any party). Historically there has been two major parties, The Australian Labor Party and the Coalition. The Coalition is made up of the Liberal and National Parties. They operate as two parties in one, if that makes sense. The Leader of the Liberal Party becomes the leader of the Coalition and the Leader of the National party become the deputy. If the Coalition gains power at an election, this leadership division also transfers into Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. In recent years, there has been a sizeable shift, giving more traction to The Greens (and seeing them become a major party in their own right), and seeing Independents being consistently elected in previously considered ‘safe seats’
In the Federal Election, one candidate per electorate will be elected for the Lower House (a total of 151 seats) If the successful candidate is affiliated with a party, that party will gain one point Basically, a party needs to obtain 76 points (or seats) to be able to form government In recent history (since WW2), Australia has only had Labor or Liberal governments Once a party has gained enough seats to form government, they then also divide ‘portfolios’ amongst their Ministers Examples of portfolios are Defence, Home Affairs, Foreign Affairs, and much more Now, in the same election that these MPs are elected, Senate seats are also elected At each election, half the Senate seats are up for grabs Senate terms are 6 years, opposed to the 3 years for Lower
House MPs Every state gets 12 Senate seats and each Territory gets 2 So basically, that means, at this election, 6 Senators will be elected to represent Tasmania These 6 Senators will join the 6 already electedSenatorsinCanberra,tocomprisetheTassiedelegation
Now, going back to the actual election day and what voting will actually look like. For logistics, head to our back cover, what to bring and expect is covered there In regard to how voting will work on the day,letscoverthatnow!
We’ll start with the Senate, because that honestly is significantly simpler They’re a ‘line’ on the Senate ballot paper You can choose to vote ‘above’ this, which means you only have to preference 6 candidates, or you can choose to vote ‘below’ it, which would mean you have to preference 12 senate candidates in Tasmania This is referred to as voting above or below the line Actually, pretty simple hey?
Now let’s explain the Lower House Basically, each electorate will usually have about 10 candidates (this can be more or less, but generally around 10). You need to preference ALL of the candidates in your electorate Let’s say you do have 10 candidates, you will be askedtonumberthemfrom1to10 1beingyourfavouriteandwhoyou think will be the best MP for your area, and 10 being the person you want least You MUST number all candidates All of this is explained on your ballot on the day, so make sure you read the instructions carefullyandslowly,andyou’ll‘be’right.
Now, you may be asking yourself, why the f**k do you need to preference every damn candidate? Wellllll that’s thanks to the BEAUTIFUL preferential voting system we use Basically, in a very simplified explanation, your votes will be pooled So in the first vote (counting number 1 preferences) if someone gets 50% (or more) of the votes, they automatically win. If no one wins in this first round, then the candidate with the lowest number of votes is eliminated. Everyone who voted for the now eliminated candidate as their number 1 preference, their vote then goes to their number 2 preference A second count is then made to see if now, with the redistributed votes (and one less candidate), a candidate reached 50% or more of the votes Basically, this process keeps going until someone reaches 50% of the votes. This is actually a really great system because it means that even if the candidate you voted number1iseliminatedyourvoteisstillcountedinyoursecondorthird ( etc) votes This means EVERY single vote counts, no vote is lost and novotedoesn’tmatter
Now that you know HOW to vote, you will need to work WHO you’re going to vote for. Keep reading for some of our favourite tools and resourcesthatwillhelpyouout.
Some of you reading this might already, vehemently, know how you’re going to vote on Saturday However, for many more of you, you might wake up on Saturday morning still not knowing. So for you guys, what can you do between now and Saturday to help you rock up to the polling place with a plan and feeling like Confident Democracy Barbie? Well here are a few tools and resources that will help you narrow down your choices and work out which candidates your beliefs actually align with
Vote Compass
Vote Compass is a tool run by the ABC and developed by political scientists to help you to see how your views compare to the candidates in your electorates and partys more generally. It provides comparision percentages and also places you on the political spectrum from your answers.
Build A Ballot
Build A Ballot is a tool by Project Planet, and environmental organisation. You’ll answer a few questions and then build your ballot. You can move canidates up and down in your prerferences, and compatability percentages are presented next to them (kinda like a less shitty Tinder, hey?) You’ll work through this process for the lower and upper house and at the end you’ll have a customised ballot you can take with you on election day.
Tasmanian Climate Collective
Tas Climate Collective have put together climate scorecards So if the climate is a priority for you, these show how the candidates in your electorate measure up.
HOW TO WORK OUT WHO YOU’RE GOING TO VOTE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE’S VOTES MATTER
IN THIS FEDERAL ELECTION IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 48% OF VOTERS ARE GENERATION Z, WHICH MEANS THE ‘YOUNG VOTE’ IS MORE VITAL THAN EVER BEFORE ALL THE MAJOR PARTIES HAVE ANNOUNCED NUMEROUS POLICIES TARGETED AT YOUNG PEOPLE. OFTEN YOUNG PEOPLE CAN FEEL DISILLUSIONED AND DEMEANED BY THE POLITICAL SYSTEM IN THIS ELECTION YOU MATTER, YOUR VOICE MATTERS AND YOUR VOTE MATTERS
ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL THINGS YOU CAN DO IS TO VOTE WELL.
ALSO-REMEMBER TO ENGAGE WITH OUR OLDER GENERATIONS IN THIS TIME AS WELL! YOUR GRANDPARENTS, NEIGHBOURS OR OTHER LOCAL ADULTS AND ELDERLIES. TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR VOTE AND THE CURRENT ISSUES FACING OUR WORLD AND WHAT CONCERNS YOU MIGHT HAVE REGARDING YOUR FUTURE!
HOUSE OF REPS
We contacted everyone running for election in the Tasmanian electorates
We asked them to explain what impact they would have on University Students if they are elected as well as the three issues they feel are most pertinent currently Here’s an overview on them and what they had to say:
Bass
Here are the candidates, as they will appear on the Ballot Paper in the voting booth:
Jess Teesdale Australian Labor Party
‘As a teacher and lifelong learner who completed a Master’s in 2022, I know firsthand how tough it is to balance study, work, rent, and life. It’s a constant juggling act. I’ve been there, recently. If elected, I’ll be part of a government that’s already delivering real support for students and young people, and I’ll keep fighting to go further.
Labor is wiping around $3 billion in student debt by fixing the way indexation is calculated and we’ll go further by cutting HECS debt by 20% That means real, immediate relief for people trying to build a future while managing the cost of study
We're also taking action on one of the biggest pressures facing young Tasmanians housing Whether you're renting or dreaming of buying your first home, Labor is making it easier:
Lower deposits: Through the Home Guarantee Scheme, we’re supporting first home buyers with just a 5% deposit and no mortgage insurance saving around $15,000
Smaller mortgages: Our Help to Buy scheme, opening this year, cuts the average mortgage by up to $150,000 through shared equity
Student debt relief when buying a home: We’re treating student debt more fairly in loan assessments, making it easier to get your foot in the door.
And for renters:
We’re strengthening renters’ rights, including minimum standards and protections like limits on rent increases and banning ‘ no grounds’ evictions in most states
We’re unlocking 80,000 new long-term rentals through Build-to-Rent tax reforms, giving tenants longer leases and more stability
And we’ve increased Rent Assistance by 45%, helping around one million households make ends meet.
When it comes to health care, young people deserve access that’s fast, fair and affordable. Labor has: Opened Medicare Urgent Care Clinics to help you skip long emergency department waits and get care closer to home
Opened Australia’s first Medicare Mental Health Centre right here in Launceston, so young people can access free, walk-in mental health support no appointment needed
Tripled the bulk billing incentive, meaning more free doctor visits, especially in regional areas like Northern Tasmania, and Delivered cheaper medicines by reducing the PBS co-payment
And finally, we’re standing up for fair and secure work Labor has banned job ads offering below minimum wage, made wage theft a crime, and given casual workers more power to become permanent if they choose.’
Hertop3priorities:
Better health care – with more free doctor visits, more mental health services, cheaper medicines and expanded urgent care.
Fairer education – by cutting student debt, investing in more local uni places, and easing the pressure on students trying to build a future
Secure work and housing – through real action on renters’ rights, affordable home ownership, and job protections for young people
Young people deserve more than just promises You deserve a government that delivers and I’m committed to being part of one that does ’
Caroline Larner Citizens Party -------------------------------
Bridget Archer Libera
*Currently elected member and is seeking re-election ----
Jordan Potter Pauline Hanson’s One Nation ---------------
*This candidate was contacted but did not provide a statement*
*This candidate was contacted but did not provide a statement*
*This candidate was contacted but did not provide a statement*
Charlene McLennan The Greens -----------------
George Razay Independant -----------------------------------
*This candidate was contacted but did not provide a statement*
*This candidate was contacted but did not provide a statement*
Ray Broomhall Trumpet of Patriots -------------------------
*This candidate was contacted but did not provide a statement*
Clark
Andrew Wilkie Independant --------------------------------------------
Whathe’lldoforyou:
*Currently elected member and is seeking re-election
‘There are so many pressing issues at the moment that being asked for the top 3 invariably means some really important stuff misses out That said, the climate and extinction crises, the soaring cost-of-living including the chronic lack of affordable housing, and the continuing genocide in Palestine, are some of the most distressing issues facing the community right now ’ Here are the candidates, as they will appear on the Ballot Paper in the voting booth:
I intend to continue fighting for issues I’ve long championed including, for students specifically, fee-free first degrees, fairer HECS/HELP indexation and repayment arrangements, higher Centrelink payments for students and young people and extending Commonwealth Parental Leave Payments to PHD students ’
Histop3priorities:
‘Education is a basic human right and public good that should be accessible to everyone regardless of their background or financial situation. The Greens have a plan to create an education system that prioritises learning, equity and public good over profits:
Wipe all student debt so students are no longer saddled with decades of repayments
Make university and TAFE free by covering the full student contribution for Commonwealth Supported Places
Raise Youth Allowance payments and abolish parental income tests for those not at home
Support international students and mandate anti-racism initiatives
Secure jobs for university staff, tying funding to targets for reducing insecure work
Boost base and infrastructure funding for universities & TAFE so they remain accessible and environmentally responsible;
End the corporatisation of universities including funding student unions and improving transparency of governance
Raise PhD stipends to match the national minimum wage.
Hertop3priorities:
1. Takingrealclimateaction.Climatechangeishappeningnow and is going to make our environmental and costs of living crisesworse Weneedtostopnewcoalandgasprojects,end native forest logging, expand publicly-owned renewables, and end the billions of dollars in subsidies to the fossil fuel industry
2 Holistically tackle the housing crisis- establish a government-owned developer to build affordable good quality homes, phase out tax handouts going to wealth property investors with more than one investment property, and regulate banks to deliver lower mortgages At the same time,continueoureffortstoprotectrentersbystopping
Janet Shelley The Green
unlimited rent increases and establishing a National Renters Protection Authority.
3. Collect more tax from big corporations and billionaires. The cost of living crisis isn’t just happening on its own – it’s being driven by big corporations raking in profits. And the crazy thing is one in three big corporations operating
in Australia pay absolutely no tax. Unlike Liberal and Labor, the Greens don’t accept big corporate donations and aren’t scared to demand these corporations pay their fair share of tax, to lower the cost of living, decrease economic inequality and make life better for us.
Vote for the Greens and we will keep Dutton out, make Labor do better, and fight for a better future for us all.’
Marilena Di Florio Liber ----------------------------
*This candidate was contacted but did not provide a statement*
Heidi Heck Australian Labor Party -------------------
Cathy Griggs Pauline Hanson’s One Nation ---------------
*This candidate was contacted but did not provide a statement*
*This candidate was contacted but did not provide a statement*
Franklin
Here are the candidates, as they will appear on the Ballot Paper in the voting booth:
Josh Garvin Liber -----------------------------------
Peter George Independant -----------------------------------
*This candidate was contacted but did not provide a statement*
*This candidate was contacted but did not provide a statement*
Whathe’lldoforyou:
For far too long, we’ve been ignored by Canberra and it’s time for that to change
Cost of living is hitting all of us and is overwhelmingly due to government overspending started by the Liberals and made worse under Labor As a result, we’re all suffering with higher interest rates
The homelessness and rental crisis is real and across Franklin there are pockets of deep disadvantage that, in a country as fortunate and wealthy as Australia, just should not exist A lack of affordable housing options affects every aspect of people’s lives – particularly our young The recent Salvo’s report tells us that a young person on Job Seeker and Rental Assistance is unable to meet their basic needs without additional assistance. Housing affordability is key and both major parties think that throwing money at it is the answer. Basic economics tells me it is supply and demand. So, instead of more dimwitted inflationary measures, we need to make housing land available and building more affordable by removing the
unnecessary planning requirements. On the Health front, both sides have made an absolute mess with access to GPs at an all-time low as there has not been an appropriate increase in the rebate paid, which has led to General Practice not being financially appealing. Mental Health is an area very close to my heart and I have previously served as Chair of a national suicide prevention charity, and I was also proud to champion the establishment of a headspace service on the eastern shore at the last federal election. We must ensure better access to 20 sessions per year – on Medicare – so people with complex needs can receive proper care
With your support, I will be your strong and effective voice in Canberra, who will deliver the change we need, and desperately deserve
Histopthreepriorities:
1 Cost of Living
2 Housing affordability and homelessness
3 Access to health care
Brendan Blomeley Independant
Stefan Popescu Pauline Hanson’s One Nation
‘I can tell you this much, I would like to see more practical integration between university degrees and shortages in the community (such as medical staff) This kind of thinking can be applied across many disciplines Jobs for locals are also a big priority, so hopefully when people graduate, they can go straight into an industry
The Tasmanian brain drain is also an issue, so I would like to see more graduates staying locally and entering into local industries ’
Owen Fitzgerald The Greens ------ *This candidate has withdrawn As he withdrew after the nomination date, he will still be on the ballot, and you can vote for him, but he cannot be elected*
Julie Collins Australian Labor Party
*Currently elected member and is se re-election
‘I want to ensure that young Tasmanians can get the best start to life, with affordable education, healthcare and housing. These are things that I’m really passionate about – addressing cost of living, including HECS and housing, better health care and action on climate change.
I left school when I was 15 because I wasn’t able to afford to continue my education. With a family of my own – three children and now two grandchildren – I want to ensure that they, and all Tasmanians, have the opportunities to live their best lives
That’s why it’s so important to me that Labor is supporting Australians at every stage of their education
We’re making sure every student has the opportunity to study at university by slashing HECS debts and making repayments fairer Under Labor, your HECS debt will be cut by 20 per cent – that’s a cut of more than $5,000 to
Labor also knows how important access to affordable healthcare is to Tasmanians, especially young Tasmanians Health has definitely been one of the key issues that I'm hearing when I'm talking to people in my electorate, and I know Tasmanians are appreciating the Medicare Urgent Care Clinics that we have established across Tasmania That’s why we’re going to invest in three more – including one here in Kingston We’re also going to make sure that people can get their scripts filled and they can afford to pay for their medicines We've made PBS medicines cheaper for everyone and frozen the cost of PBS medicines for concession card holders at $7 70 until 2030
Importantly, Labor wants to help young people and first home buyers achieve the dream of home ownership When a young person saves a 5 per cent deposit, a re-elected Albanese government will guarantee the rest with their bank This means smaller deposits to get into a home sooner, saving tens of thousands of dollars in Lenders Mortgage Insurance that young people don’t
an average debt, if Labor wins on May 3rd. And since the Albanese Labor Government’s Free TAFE program started in January 2023, there have been hundreds of thousands of enrolments.
I also know many university students are supporting themselves through their education, and that’s why Labor wants to make sure that they’re paid properly. Under Labor real wages are rising again.
We’re also supporting Australians, including our university students, by tackling cost of living pressures Labor has delivered a tax cut for every taxpayer and more energy bill relief for every household Labor is also determined for Australians to get a better deal at the checkout Which is why a re-elected Albanese Labor Government will make price gouging by supermarkets illegal - because Australians deserve fair prices for their groceries
need to pay anymore. We will also invest $10 billion to build 100,000 homes that only first home buyers can buy, as part of Labor’s $43 billion Homes for Australia Plan that includes more social and affordable homes
I’m also passionate about Labor’s plan to act on climate change We know that climate change is not a forecast or a projection - it is a lived reality Getting emissions down is hard work, but that's what we're doing We're moving to an 82 per cent renewable energy grid by 2030 We're adding more renewable energy and we're storing the renewable energy Importantly, we’re also not planning to whack Tasmanians with a mainland nuclear tax to pay for a nuclear power scheme that will take too long and cost more
This is what is important to me – ensuring that young Tasmanians can get an education, afford a home and not go into debt for the essentials they need to live and acting for a better future
That’s what Labor is working to deliver, and that’s what’s at risk if Peter Dutton wins the election.’
THE SENATE
Every State gets 12 representative in the Senate They all serve 6 year terms, and half are elected in each Federal Election Basically, that means, this election there are 6 Senate seats up for grabs in Tassie Some of the Senators who held these seats for the last 6 years are re-running (this is indicated next to their name), but you don’t need to vote for them if you don’t want to You will need to pick at least 6 candidates to vote above the line or 12 candidates to vote below the line
Here are the candidates, as they will appear in Group Order on the Ballot Paper in the voting booth:
Dennis Bilic - Sustainable Australia Party - Universal Basic
Income
Pierre Richardson - Sustainable Australia Party - Universal
Basic Income
Claire Chandler - Liberal *seeking re-election
Richard Mansell Colbeck - Liberal *seeking re-election
Jacki Martin - Liberal
Wayne Leslie Moore - Trumpet of Patriots
Matt Kelly - Trumpet of Patriots
Greg Smith - Trumpet of Patriots
Matt Owen - Legalise Cannabis Party
Gail Hester - Legalise Cannabis Party
Casey Davies - Animal Justice Party
Kate Elizabeth Lucas - Animal Justice Party
Nick McKim - The Greens *running for re-election
Vanessa Bleyer - The Greens
Scott Jordan - The Greens
Trenton Hoare - The Greens I’maUniStudent
Jacqui Lambie - Jacqui Lambie Network *seeking re-election
Christine Hannan - Jacqui Lambie Network
Chrysten Abraham - Libertarian
Nicole Armstrong - Libertarian
Lee Hanson - Pauline Hanson’s One Nation
James Dunn - Pauline Hanson’s One Nation
Daryl Staggard - Citizens Party
Ray Williams - Citizens Party
Carol Brown - Australian Labor Party *seeking re-election
Richard Dowling - Australian Labor Party
Bailey Falls - Australian Labor Party
Saxon O’Donnell - Australian Labor Party
Greg Luckman - Australian Labor Party
Amelia Louise Meyers - Australian Labor Party
Phillip Bigg - Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party
Melanie Roach - Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party
Fenella Edwards - Independant
WHAT TO DO ON THE DAY
Now that you’ve gone through everything you need to know about each party and are an educated voter there is the actual day! Whether you’re a first time voter or a well seasoned one the actual day itself can be overwhelming and it’s easy to forget some key things
Where to find your closest voting station:
Usually, but not always, local schools or halls will be set up as voting stations and are a safe bet but if you’re ever unsure or need directions to your closest station check the AEC website by searching ‘Where can I vote in the 2025 election ” The site will take you to a page where you can input your postcode and it will list those stations closest to you. Here’s everything you will need to bring with you to actually vote- don’t worry its not a long list!
A current piece of ID- driver’s license or passport (not your student ID this is not an exam)
How to vote card or this Togatus edition if you need it- you are welcome to take this on your phone or other device or simply write it all down on a piece of paper- again, this is not an exam and you’re free to bring whatever you need to vote well!
Couple of coins- because who doesn’t want to make the most of the joy of democracy with a cheeky sausage after your vote, or before, or both, maybe its bulking season for you!
What will happen-
When you arrive there will be campaigners for some parties outside your polling place, try not to let this overwhelm you, you’re more than welcome to stop and have a chat but remember this is your vote and your choice When you walk in, there will be a desk with one or more AEC volunteers with a computer, they will ask for your name and address so they can find you in the AEC database and for your ID, they will then ask what electorate you are voting in, give you that electorate’s ballot papers and direct you to the voting booth These booths have screens on either side so that your vote remains confidential Again, you have every right to take a device and follow a how to vote card AND you can take as LONG as you need to complete your vote, there is no rush. Once you have completed your ballots, fold them in half and place in the correct ballot box and go grab yourself a sausage on exit, democracy sure works up an appetite.
Important things to remember:
Follow instructions on each ballot paper regarding how many candidates you need to number (all the boxes in your order of preference for the House of Representatives; for the Senate vote, at least 1-6 ABOVE the line, or at least 1-12 BELOW the line)
If you mess up your vote just take your ballot back to the desk and ask for another, the person there will properly dispose your old ballot paper and provide you with another.
If you are with a non- English speaking person on the day, whether your parent or friend please remind them it is their right to get a translation We don’t want their vote going to waste if numbered incorrectly due to a language barrier, every vote matters! In terms of getting the appropriate translator on the day there is a booklet created by the AEC that explains the voting process in 20-25 languages OR they can call up the AEC prior to election day and get a translator to explain the process which is presented in an unbiased way On the day, should there be any issues, the AEC volunteers are there to help in any way they can, just ASK.
The opinions expressed herein are not those of the editors, the publishers, the University of Tasmania, or the Tasmanian University Student Association Reasonable care is taken to ensure that the content and information included is as up-to-date and accurate as possible at the time of publication, but no responsibility can be taken towards Togatus for any errors or omissions.
If you have concerns or questions about anything that has been published, contact the Editor-in-Chief, Evelyn Unwin Tew, by email
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