Fwd: RE: [LINK] postal vote oddity

[Jan Whitaker]

forwarded at Nigel's request:

>My guess is that the parties record the fact of 
>someone having applied for a postal vote before 
>forwarding the application to the AEC (or SEC 
>for state elections) – they may then use this to 
>selectively direct market and/or door knock 
>(although this would then be contrary to the 
>privacy assurance given on the form).
>If the parties were subject to privacy laws 
>(i.e. not having conveniently exempted 
>themselves) they would have to be a lot more 
>open about what they are doing.  As it is they 
>can do what they like, including using the 
>information contrary to the AEC’s assurance.
>We also think that the AEC (and SECs) are 
>potentially in breach of respective privacy laws 
>in allowing the parties to misrepresent the 
>information flows (including use of the 
>Commonwealth crest on the envelope) and vary the 
>format and sequence of the official 
>information.  In past elections the parties in 
>at least some cases failed to include the 
>privacy notice which appears on the official 
>versions of the application forms.  This time, 
>in my own electorate (Paterson) both the the 
>Liberal and ALP versions contain the same brief 
>‘About the information you give’ as is on the 
>AEC version (which is arguably non-compliant 
>with IPP1[privacy principle]). In at least some 
>areas the ALP seems to be marginally less 
>misleading in the overall presentation – i.e. 
>clearer that it is from and to be returned to the ALP.
>APF complained to the NSW EC in 2003 but 
>received only an unsatisfactory partial answer. 
>We have also raised the issue orally at meetings 
>with both the federal and NSW Commissioners but 
>they have shown no inclination to pursue 
>it.  Formal complaints are probably required if 
>anyone has the stamina – expect at least a 
>year!  Should start with AEC.  Can we get 
>volunteers to send complaints along these lines.
>
>Nigel
>
>*************************************************
>
>*************************************************
>Nigel Waters, Board Member and Policy Coordinator
>Australian Privacy Foundation
>E-mail: <mailto:enquiries at privacy.org.au>enquiries at privacy.org.au
>APF Web site: <http://www.privacy.org.au/>http://www.privacy.org.au
>*************************************************




Jan Whitaker
JLWhitaker Associates, Melbourne Victoria
jwhit at janwhitaker.com
business: http://www.janwhitaker.com
personal: http://www.janwhitaker.com/personal/
commentary: http://janwhitaker.com/jansblog/

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revising does. - Jim Sollisch, Sept, 2007
'Seed planting is often the most important step. 
Without the seed, there is no plant.' - JW, April 2005
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