Peter Dutton will write to the Australian Electoral Commission over what he called a “completely outrageous” situation where a tick will likely be accepted as a formal vote for Yes on a voice referendum ballot paper but a cross will not be accepted for No.
The Opposition Leader urged Anthony Albanese to draft legislation to clarify what was allowed so that one side of the debate on the Indigenous voice to parliament was not favoured over the other.
“It's completely outrageous, to be honest. I mean, if a tick counts for Yes then a cross should count for No. It's as clear as that,” Mr Dutton told 2GB radio.
“Otherwise it gives a very, very strong advantage to the Yes case. I just think Australians want a fair vote. They want to be informed. They want to have the detail before them.”
Voters will be asked to write “yes” or “no” on a single question on whether they support the proposed constitutional amendment.
Under AEC rules, a vote is informal if a cross is used on a referendum ballot paper which has only one question "since a cross on its own may mean either 'yes' or 'no'".
The question voters will be asked in October is: “A proposed law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?”
