‘Do you think it’s racist?’: Ben Fordham challenges Labor leader over voter ID
The Labor Party is accusing the Morrison government of importing American-style voter suppression with a proposed voter ID bill.
The new law would require voters to present ID such as a driver’s licence or passport at the polling booth.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese defended his party’s opposition to the bill, telling Ben Fordham an ID requirement would suppress the voting rights of minority groups in particular.
He argued the most of the multiple votes are due to postal voters forgetting they voted early or electoral errors like poll workers ticking off the wrong name.
“This is a solution looking for a problem, Ben.
“There is no suggestion that in Australia we have anything other than free and fair elections.”
Ben pushed back on Mr Albanese’s argument, pointing out up to 18,000 people voted twice in the 2016 federal election.
“Why not make it watertight?
“I don’t know why this would be a hill you’d want to die on!”
Press PLAY below to hear their debate in full