Rightwing activist Avi Yemini has announced plans to register a 'Free Palestine party' to funnel votes to conservative parties in Victoria's upcoming state election, reigniting concerns over the state's group voting ticket (GVT) system. Victoria's upper house is the only parliament in Australia still using GVTs, which allow parties to allocate preferences through backroom deals, often leading to candidates being elected with minimal primary votes.
Yemini's Strategy and Inspiration
Yemini, a former Israeli soldier and self-styled investigative journalist who runs the YouTube channel Rebel News Australia, revealed his plan on Tuesday. He stated that the party would 'flow our preferences on to parties that want to free Palestine from Hamas' in the November poll. He drew inspiration from anti-lockdown activist Monica Smit, who in February announced her intention to register the 'Save the Environment party' to influence the election outcome.
In a video, Yemini explained that Smit's party would 'take voters' from the left and 'redistribute their votes back to conservative parties.' He said, 'It inspired me and got me thinking, what's the one issue that unites all useful idiots, from the far left to the fringe right to certain immigrant cultures that have imported their hate? Who? Free Palestine.' He added, 'Imagine they walked into a polling booth and they saw Free Palestine party. It's genius. I am launching the Free Palestine party and we are going to redistribute, we're going to flow our preferences on to parties that want to free Palestine from Hamas.'
Political Reactions and Calls for Reform
The plan has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum. Greens leader Ellen Sandell condemned the system, stating, 'Group voting tickets are seriously dodgy. How can Labor condone a voting system that allows people to be tricked into voting for a party with a fake name that is completely opposed to their values? If Labor doesn't abolish dodgy group voting tickets, they're letting deceitful far-right political parties buy seats in parliament and essentially handing the upper house over to the far right.'
Three Labor MPs, speaking anonymously, confirmed strong support within the caucus to abolish GVTs due to integrity risks, with the party delaying upper-house preselections pending a decision. One MP noted that Premier Jacinta Allan appeared reluctant to act, as it would benefit One Nation. A government spokesperson said the government is still considering the electoral matters committee's recommendations on GVTs and will respond in due course.
Preference Whisperer's Role
Glenn Druery, known as the 'preference whisperer,' said he has been working to direct micro-party preferences away from One Nation since 1999. He declined to reveal his current clients but stated, 'I am happy to say I will use all my expertise, my contacts, my experience, to do my best to stop any racists, cookers or crazies from getting into the Victorian parliament.' He warned that if Labor scraps GVTs and recent polling holds, One Nation could win 13 to 16 upper-house seats.
Pauline Hanson told 10News+ that One Nation would 'gladly welcome' preferences from Yemini's party, though she believes it would be better to 'get rid' of GVTs and 'allow voters to control their preferences.' One Nation's Victorian president, Warren Pickering, said the party has opposed GVTs since 2022, calling them a 'subversion of the democratic process' that voters do not fully understand.
Electoral Commission's Stance
The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) stated that all applications to register a political party are assessed according to the Electoral Act. Objections can be raised on grounds such as incorrect applications, obscene names, or disallowed logos, but not on the basis that a party's name misrepresents its true character or policies. The commission can only implement GVT changes in time for the election if legislation is passed by August.
