Alexander Hyde petitions Court of Disputed Returns to have the Central Ward of Adelaide City Council declared void

New allegations of bribery and illegal practices in the Adelaide City Council election have emerged, according to documents lodged by Alexander Hyde with the Court of Disputed Returns.

Alexander Hyde at the Adelaide Town Hall, pictured last year. Picture: Matt Turner

New allegations of bribery and illegal practices in the Adelaide City Council election have emerged, including the offer of a job and mass enrolment, according to court documents.

Former councillor Alexander Hyde has petitioned the Court of Disputed Returns to have the Central Ward result in the November 12 election declared void.

In court documents, Mr Hyde claimed the four successful candidates – incumbent Simon Hou and new candidates Jing Li, Carmel Noon and David Elliott – were not duly elected. Mr Hyde’s claims included Mr Li allegedly asking a meeting of leaders within the Adelaide international student community to help enrol Chinese students to vote for him.

Mr Hyde claims Mr Li stated words to the effect that he promised a “job” to the person who obtained the most enrolments and votes for him, according to the court documents.

It is further alleged a person acting on behalf of Mr Li wrote a WeChat message in Mandarin to a group of Vision on Morphett apartment residents asking for their ballot papers.

“Let’s all work together to support Jing Li. I am coming to your building on Tuesday 18 October 2022 at 7pm to pick up the ballots,” the message stated, according to the application filed by Mr Hyde.

Adelaide City councillor Jing Li. Picture: Dean Martin

Alexander Hyde pictured at the Adelaide Town Hall last year. Picture: Matt Turner

Vision on Morphett was one of four apartments named as part of a suspected voter scam operating during the campaign and investigated by Electoral Commissioner Mick Sherry. He referred 90 returned ballots for further scrutiny and found 23 were filled out and returned by a person other than the voter.

Mr Hyde told the Sunday Mail fair elections were fundamental to society and ratepayers must have faith their elected representatives were put there by them.

“The Electoral Commission acted promptly and professionally with their available resources on my original complaint of October, which saw some 23 votes excluded because the voters who were meant to sign for those ballots confirmed they did not vote,” Mr Hyde said.

“Since then, however, further information has come to light which suggests these 23 illegitimate votes were the just tip of the iceberg and that many other illegitimate votes made it into the count process.”

In court documents, Mr Hyde further alleged a real estate director handed unfilled voter packs to Mr Li’s campaign manager, while another used WeChat to contact landlords endorsing Mr Li and offering them help to apply for ballot papers.

Mr Li received 508 initial votes – the highest of the 14 Central Ward candidates – and was elected fourth at count 98 when preferences were distributed.

Mr Hyde, who polled fifth behind Mr Li by 31 votes, also noted a 40 per cent increase in voter turnout in the Central Ward, compared to 2018.

Rex Patrick is challenging the Adelaide City Council’s lord mayoral result, which was won by Jane Lomax-Smith.

In comparison, North Ward and South Ward had a 6 and 7 per cent increase, respectively.

There were also 1587 people added to the Central Ward’s supplementary roll – for international students and non-citizens – since 2018, compared to a 48 person decrease in the North Ward and a 48 person increase in the South Ward.

Polina Asmalovskaya, of Woodburn & Co Solicitors, is instructing solicitor, and Mr Hyde will be represented by Simon Ower KC, of Jeffcott Chambers, and David Blyth and Philippa Ewens of Nexus Chambers.

Mr Li told the Sunday Mail Mr Hyde had the right to petition the court, “it’s a part of democracy”.

“I will receive the petition, I’ll assess the situation and decide whether I should seek legal advice”.

Former senator Rex Patrick is also challenging the lord mayoral result in the Court of Disputed Returns after losing to Jane Lomax-Smith by 52 votes.

Originally published as Alexander Hyde petitions Court of Disputed Returns to have the Central Ward of Adelaide City Council declared void