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Liberals accuse electoral commission of interfering with Victorian election

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The Liberal Party has accused the independent Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) of deliberately interfering in the upcoming Victorian election.
The Victorian Liberal party’s state director has released a statement declaring he is “deeply concerned” the VEC has interfered with the election after it yesterday announced it had referred its investigation of Matthew Guy and Mitch Catlin to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC).

Sam McQuestin’s broadside comes after the VEC also said it had not received full cooperation from those involved its investigation.

McQuestin said he had instructed the party’s lawyers to write to the VEC, asking it to publicly declare members of the Liberal Party had cooperated with its enquiries.

The lawyers have also called for VEC communications director Sue Lang to be stood down after an interview she did today with 3AW.

“The people we invited to speak with us, did not satisfy our inquiries,” Lang told host Neil Mitchell.

“We received no satisfactory response from anybody.”

The cease and desist letter argues the VEC’s actions had “…an intent to damage the Liberal Party in the State Election… which could potentially erode trust in the electoral process”.

The VEC on Friday evening issued a statement in response, saying its activities are not “subject to a moratorium in the lead up to an election”.

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“As the independent, impartial body responsible for conducting elections and administering electoral laws on behalf of all Victorians, the VEC does not change its regulatory approach as election day nears,” Electoral Commissioner Warwick Gately said.

“All of us at the VEC are committed to conducting a safe and secure election for all Victorians, and I have every confidence in our ability to do so.

“I remain firmly committed to my role as Victoria’s independent electoral administrator and my actions and decisions are taken accordingly.

“This includes the decision to act, or not to act.”

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has said he has fully cooperated with the VEC’s investigation. (Nine)

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has insisted he has done nothing wrong, saying he has complied with the VEC’s investigation.

“I have complied to the full extent of the law – totally. What more would you want from me?'” he said today.

He was out in Werribee, where he announced that he will establish Victoria’s first ‘Special Economic Zone’ in East Werribee to help boost jobs, if he is elected next week.

Businesses established in the zone would pay no payroll tax for at least four years and would receive discounted land tax and stamp duty, and be able to apply directly to the Planning Minister for expedited planning approvals.

Meanwhile, Premier Daniel Andrews today announced that if he is re-elected, he will put $16 million toward training another 40 Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance paramedics for the state.

He said he’d also put $10 million towards creating a Centre for Paramedicine to assist with training paramedics in future.

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