Federal election 2019: Julia Banks forced to reprint how to vote cards

The Liberal-turned-independent candidate has been forced to pulp her how-to-vote cards.

Independent MP Julia Banks. Picture: David Geraghty

Liberal-turned-independent Julia Banks has been forced to reprint her how-to-vote cards due to her failure to include a printer authorisation.

Australian Electoral Commission rules require political candidates to print “the name of the printer who printed the communication” on all election material.

While Ms Banks included her own political authorisation, her how-to-vote cards for Health Minister Greg Hunt’s Mornington Peninsula seat of Flinders do not include any reference to who printed them.

Julia Banks’s how-to-vote cards.

Ms Banks has been handing her how-to-vote cards out alongside her rival Mr Hunt and other campaigners at a pre-poll centre in Flinders.

Onlookers said she appeared agitated while taking a call from the AEC regarding the how-to-vote cards.

A spokesman for the AEC confirmed that advice was provided to Ms Banks “regarding the fact that the HTV card in question appeared to not have the required authorisation particulars”.

“In all authorisation matters brought to our attention the AEC endeavours to contact the person responsible for the material, remind them of the requirements and seek amendment or cessation of distribution where possible,” the spokesman said.