Groom votes: AEC receives complaints about Australian Federation Party’s Ryan Otto over behaviour at pre-polling booths
UPDATE: The Australian Electoral Commission has provided new information on complaints made against a federal election candidate for Groom.
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UPDATE: The Australian Electoral Commission has provided an update on complaints made about Groom candidate Ryan Otto in the federal election campaign.
A spokeswoman for the AEC on Friday once again confirmed it had received complaints relating to the Australian Federation Party candidate’s behaviour at pre-polling booths.
However, the statement said the nature of the complaints were outside the jurisdiction of the commission.
“The AEC received complaints but they are not matters covered by the Electoral Act,” the spokeswoman said.
“Any party involved needs to take their grievance to the police, if they wish to do so.”
The AEC stated last week it had received complaints and was “reviewing the matter” at the time.
Mr Otto has strenuously denied the allegations, to both The Chronicle (see below) and other media outlets.
EARLIER: A Toowoomba federal election candidate denies he has been harassing volunteers at pre-polling booths, after two complaints were made against him by different parties.
The Australian Electoral Commission said it was investigating claims that the Australian Federation Party’s Ryan Otto verbally harassed and filmed Labor and Greens supporters handing out how-to-vote cards last week.
Labor candidate Gen Allpass alleged Mr Otto had driven one older volunteer to tears after confronting her at a booth.
“It was the way he was standing over her and in her space — she started shaking and crying,” she said.
“He just keeps going to the different booths and causing issues.”
The Greens confirmed it had filed a similar complaint about Mr Otto.
Mr Otto dismissed the claims, saying he was simply having robust conversations with constituents and other party supporters.
“She said I was being too loud and tried to shut me up because I was having a passionate conversation, and I told her I had a right to speak,” he said.
“If that made her cry, I’m sorry I hurt her feelings, I was just being loud – I’m loud and a little bit obnoxious.”
Originally published as: AEC probes claims of candidate ‘harassing’ pre-poll volunteers
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