Voice referendum: 2GB host Ben Fordham slams AEC boss Tom Rodgers’ $600k salary

2GB host Ben Fordham has slammed the Australian Electoral Commission boss’s $600,000 salary, saying he has “one job to do”.

Ben Fordham has ripped into the head of the Australian Electoral Commission for his “bizarre” statements ahead of the Voice referendum.

The 2GB host accused AEC boss Tom Rogers of confusing voters after he told Sky News on Wednesday that ticks would be counted as yes votes, but crosses would not be counted as noes.

“A tick counts as yes but cross does not count as no. That sounds dodgy. If you’re going to count the ticks, you’ve got to count the crosses, don’t you?,” Fordham said.

“Otherwise the Yes camp has an advantage. Surely, he would see the unlevel playing field here, but apparently not.”

Tom Rodgers said voters should write yes or no in English on their ballot papers. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Fordham also lashed the commissioner’s $600k-per-year salary and said Mr Rodgers had “one job to do”.

“We’re giving them $365m to hold the referendum, Tom Rogers is on more than the Prime Minister, how hard is it to get this right?,” he said.

Mr Rodgers spoke to Sky News on Wednesday and confirmed invalid votes, including single letters like ‘Y’ or ‘N’, would not be included in the final tally.

“I need to be very clear with people – when we look at that, it is likely that a tick will be accepted as a formal vote for yes, but a cross will not be accepted as a formal vote,” he said.

“Please, make sure you write ‘yes’ or ‘no’ clearly on the ballot paper in English. That way you can assure yourself that your vote will count.”

Peter Dutton described the Voice as the ‘most significant change that‘s been proposed to our constitution in 120 years’. Picture: NewsWire/Martin Ollman

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton weighed in by accusing the AEC of “trying to provide favour to one side in a democratic election”.

He told 2GB host Ray Hadley that he wanted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to revise the vote to strike out crosses and ticks altogether.

“It just stinks to be honest,” Mr Dutton said.

“I think that he really needs to step up and exert his independence and give a sensible interpretation, one that doesn’t favour the Yes case or the No case,” Mr Dutton said.

Mr Albanese is expected to announce the official date of the referendum next week.

Originally published as Voice referendum: 2GB host Ben Fordham slams AEC boss Tom Rodgers’ $600k salary