Fed: PM denies double standards on Kelly electoral rort claim

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-2000
Fed: PM denies double standards on Kelly electoral rort claim

CANBERRA, Dec 6 AAP - The Prime Minister today denied being guilty of double standards
by refusing to order an inquiry into electoral rort claims against Sports Minister Jackie
Kelly.

A staff member of Ms Kelly was wrongly enrolled at her house for a council election.

Prime Minister John Howard refused to order an inquiry into the claims, despite having
instantly referred allegations against Labor members to federal police.

He said there was absolutely no comparison between the claims against Ms Kelly and
those engulfing Labor MPs in Queensland.

"There's no wrongdoing on her part," Mr Howard told Perth radio 6PR.

"That was all investigated several years ago.

"That was not something for which she was responsible."

Mr Howard said the Labor MP under investigation by police, Wayne Swan, was facing serious
allegations of bribing the Australian Democrats to receive preferences.

"Ms Kelly has not given any money to a Democrat candidate," he said.

"The comparison the Labor Party seeks to draw between her and Wayne Swan is quite false
and therefore there's no reason why I should refer the matter to the federal police.

"That would be quite ridiculous."

Mr Swan has denied the payment made to the Democrats was in exchange for preferences.

AAP ss/daw/was/br

KEYWORD: ELECTORAL HOWARD

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