Kierath’s dodgy newsletter
I’ve discussed Graham Kierath’s dodgy advertising before, but here’s a doozy from Alfred Covian Peter Ward:
[M]y absolute favourite piece of your campaign literature arrived in the mail today.
‘It’s Graham We Should Thank’ When bouquets are being handed around the politicians for the achievements, Graham Kierath doesn’t seek praise. … Yes, thank you Graham — thank you, indeed.
And then:
Written and authorised by G Kierath, PO Box 1032, Canning Bridge WA 6153.
Fantastic work, Graham. Great to see you are as modest as always.
Peter also notes that the Kierath newsletter is illegal, because according to the Electoral Act 1907 the authorising address needs to be a physical place and not a post box: “Unless of course you actually physically live in a PO Box, then it would be fine.”
It also fails to include the name and address of Kierath’s printer, another legal requirement. That rule is there so that we know MPs aren’t misusing their parliamentary entitlements, so I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s an important one. Kierath’s response?
Guilty. Along with probably 99% of other candidates, including those you clearly support. Hopefully we’ll all get to share a cell when your complaint reaches the Electoral Commission. In fact in all the literature I’ve seen, I think I’ve seen this complied with once.
Any literature I’ve designed includes the printer’s address — it’s not hard — and nothing that’s come through my letterbox from Labor, the Libs, or the two independents who’ve distributed material in Kingsley has lacked the appropriate fine print. (I check these things. Sad, I know.)
Vote [1] Kierath. Because we need a member who’s above the law.
It seems Libs are known for ommitting such details, local liberal candidate in Swan Hills has sent a letter on his letterhead with no authorisation.
Self photocopied stuff needs rto be identified as well.
Frank, addressed mail (that is, addressed to individuals or families rather than “Dear Resident”) does not need to be authorised, as long as it is signed and includes a return address.
Robert,
The letter says Dear Fellow West Australian.
I’ll email you the scan :-)
The image you sent me shows the letter is addressed to “Mr & Mrs A Calabrese and Family”…
I know, I read the wrong letter when I typed it in :-) the my fellow west australian is from the start of the campaign.
Gimme a sec and I’ll send that :-)
I’ve just double checked the rule. “Dear Resident” letters are fine; the only requirement is that it be signed and a return address included.
Was just driving back from Armadale and saw a light plane towing a “Put Keirath last” banner. Nice to be loved.
More dodginess from Kierath in Alfred Cove, handing out a misleading HTV that says “Do you want to Vote Green and still change the government”? Where he has a quote from Christine Sharp MLC and directions to Vote Green 1 (alwaysa good idea) and him second.
Obviously the Greens are pursuing this with the WAEC… but its on the WA Greens website if you wanna see it in all its glory.
Woohoo he lost!!!
And Tony McRae kept Riverton despite the West, Mark Olsen and Liberals best efforts AND we won the election. Just doesn’t get any better as a Labor supporter living in Alfred Cove does it?
Its heartening isnt it?
Maybe the West has become so blatant in its bias that absolutely noone takes it seriously anymore.
I trust that people will now be getting more reliable information from Weekly World News…
Hi Robert,
Thought you might be interested - I got something fairly dodgy put thought my letterbox last week. (I live in Mt Pleasant so I’ve been getting LOTS of political stuff lately…) It was a letter from some mob calling themselves the ‘Concerned Citizens of Alfred Cove’, or something like that. A letter addressed to me by name, imploring me to vote Kierath first. Return address, to support / donate etc: PO Box 1032 Canning Bridge, which by an odd coincidence is also the address for Kierath’s campaign office. Seems pretty fishy to me…