Internal Party Appeals
Appeals Committee and Procedure
1. If any question arise in relation to the exclusion of a person from entering a preselection, or to any transfer of votes during a preselection, the decision of the Returning Officer is final unless objection is made in writing by an excluded person or a nominee. In that event, the decision of the Returning Officer may be reversed on appeal.
2. The Returning Officer shall advise any excluded person(s), nominee(s) and scrutineer(s), that any appeal must:
(a) be submitted within 24 hours of the provisional notice of the count;
(b) be in writing and shall state clearly the ground(s); and
(c) be lodged with the Party Secretary or at the registered offices of the party.
3. A public announcement may not be made of the result of a preselection, where:
(a) any nominee or excluded person lodges an appeal in accordance with the constitution; and
(b) any appeal has not yet been dealt with by the Appeals Sub-Committee of Management Committee.
4. If an appeal is lodged, a sub-committee of the Party Executive Committee shall adjudge the appeal. The Appeals Sub-Committee shall comprise the Party President, the Party Vice-President and Branch Chairmen. Where any of these office-bearers is an excluded person, nominee, endorsed candidate, scrutineer, or elected representative of the Party (or an employee or relative of any of these), or is unavailable, then the next most senior person shall be appointed in their place. The Sub-Committee shall elect a Convenor at its first meeting.
5. The Returning Officer shall deliver to the Appeals Sub-Committee:
(a) all documents on which he based his decision to exclude any person from preselection;
(b) all ballot papers, including such as were set aside as informal, and all unused ballot papers;
(c) working documents or other materials used in making the decision that is subject of the appeal; and
(d) a written report, if requested.
6. So far as possible, decisions of the Appeals Sub-Committee shall be by consensus, but where agreement cannot be reached a vote may be taken. Where votes are equal, the Convenor shall have a casting vote.
7. The Appeals Sub-Committee may:
(a) request persons to answer questions before it;
(b) seek expert opinions; or
(c) examine all relevant documents and materials.
8. The Appeals Sub-Committee may make a final decision regarding the exclusion or endorsement of a person from the preselection, based on the information before it.
9. Once an appeal is concluded, Party Executive shall arrange a public announcement of the result of each preselection and shall advise the candidates of the announcement, and shall as soon as reasonably practical, arrange the destruction of the ballot papers.