Independent MP Zali Steggall demands ABC overhaul its Vote Compass election tool
Zali Steggall has written a letter of complaint to MD David Anderson about the Vote Compass tool, claiming there is ‘no option to vote for me’.
Warringah MP Zali Steggall has accused the ABC’s Vote Compass tool of being “highly misleading” and has demanded it be overhauled so respondents in her electorate have the option to vote for her.
In a letter written to the broadcaster’s managing director David Anderson on Tuesday, the independent MP said the survey provides “no option to ‘vote’ for me as the sitting independent member”.
Ms Steggall also said it omits a question about having a federal integrity commission which she said should be included in the survey.
“I currently hold the seat of Warringah with a margin of 7.2 per cent and yet on Vote Compass none of my constituents will be able to indicate their intention to vote for me as the survey currently stands,” she said in her letter published on Twitter.
“This is a problem that extends beyond Warringah, with Independents running in almost every seat around the country.”
The survey asks respondents dozens of questions on topics including wages, tax, migration, welfare and the coal industry and then one completed it provides details on which party the person aligns with – either the Coalition, Labor or Greens.
On the ABC’s website the Vote Compass tool says: “Can’t tell the difference between Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese. With some quick questions about your views, Vote Compass will provide a simple map of how your views compare to the parties.”
Ms Steggall also claimed the ABC’s editorial policies relating to accuracy and impartiality were not being adhered to and the public broadcaster had a statutory duty “to ensure that the gathering and presentation of news and information is accurate” and that “no significant strand of thought or belief within the community is knowingly excluded or disproportionately represented”.
“I believe the Vote Compass 2022 survey currently breaches these duties, and respectfully call on you to rectify it accordingly,” she said.
On Tuesday, so far more than 673,000 people had taken part in the Vote Compass survey during this election campaign.
An ABC spokesman said, “independent candidates do not meet the inclusion criteria for Vote Compass” and it would be “impractical” to curate responses for every independent candidate.
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