CONVICTED sex offenders, serious drug offenders and rapists will all be able to vote at the next state election in 2022.
After three deadlock meetings, the Labor Party has decided to back criminals in their right to vote, which is not consistent with federal election laws.
Attorney-General Vickie Chapman, made a final pitch to the Labor Opposition on Wednesday during a deadlock conference but the Labor Party would not budge.
“What is abundantly clear to me is the Labor Party are backing in serious criminals to vote at the next State election, a privilege which is afforded to law-abiding citizens,” Ms Chapman said.
“Because of the Labor Party’s intransigence, convicted sex offenders such as Vivian Deboo will be able to vote at the next State Election in 2022 but unable to vote in this year’s Federal election.
“Mr Malinauskas and the Labor Party have to explain why they are allowing offenders convicted of manslaughter, criminal neglect, rape, unlawful sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 14, arson and serious drug offences, depending on what sentence they are given, the right to vote.”
Under the Marshall Government’s proposed changes to prisoner voting, criminals serving a sentence of three years or more will not be able to vote at the next State election.
“We strongly believe that people who commit serious crimes should not be allowed to vote for the duration of their sentence,” Ms Chapman said.
