Election 2016: Chevron accused of denying FIFO workers basic right to vote

ABC News
June 16 2016


Oil and gas giant Chevron has been accused by the ACTU of denying FIFO workers their basic right to vote by refusing to allow onsite polling for its employees on election day.   

ACTU president Ged Kearney has also questioned why the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has not insisted on Chevron's cooperation to establish mobile polling booths at the Barrow Island and Wheatstone accommodation camps in Western Australia.

Ms Kearney has written to Chevron Australia managing director Nigel Hearne seeking the company's urgent cooperation.

"I am extremely concerned to hear that again, the Australian Electoral Commission will not provide polling places on Barrow Island or at the Wheatstone workers' camps because Gorgon's proponents are denying adequate access," she wrote.

"Working men and women give up a lot to work on remote projects but that should not extend to their basic democratic right to have their say and choose their government." 


At past elections, Chevron has refused to allow mobile polling onsite and instead encouraged workers to lodge an early vote or request a postal ballot.

However the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) and Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) said they were second-rate options that did not cater for all workers, especially those on three-four week rosters.   

The unions also argued that restricted services by Australia Post cast doubt on whether postal votes could be received and lodged in time from remote locations.   

Chevron has previously cited strict quarantine issues on Barrow Island, which is an A-class reserve, as a reason for not allowing mobile polling.
ACTU criticises 'excuses' as Chevron defends efforts

Ms Kearney questioned why the AEC had not been more forceful in its dealings with Chevron.

"We're absolutely sick and tired of this issue ... ultimately at the end of the day Chevron should be made to move aside and let that happen," she said.   

"The justifications are not justifications, they are excuses. The fact that they won't let the AEC down to the Wheatstone site means that the whole issue of quarantine isn't really the case. 

    "They just can't be bothered or they are actually trying to stop their workers from their democratic right to vote."   

Chevron issued a short statement in response.

"As with previous years, Chevron works with the AEC to ensure site-based workers have the necessary information to be able to vote in the July 2 election," the statement said.

"The workforce is provided with information regarding a range of voting options available prior to polling day, including early voting at various polling locations, the option of postal voting and voting at respective airports from June 20-July 2."

An AEC spokesman said i had been liaising with Chevron to get as much information as possible to Barrow Island and Wheatstone workers about how to cast their vote.

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HOW ARE THEY DENYING THEIR WORKERS THE RIGHT TO VOTE?

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I still can't find where this org is DENYING their workers the right to vote.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jun 17^th, 2016 at 10:03am:


http://www.aec.gov.au/voting/ways_to_vote/

Anyone who thinks this is denying the workers their right to vote doesn't understand how the Australian electoral system works.