The Greens warn that neo-nazis could be elected to the Victorian Parliament if Labor fails to abolish group voting tickets before the next election.
It comes after reports that the far-right group, National Socialist Network, are pushing to register as a political party and run for seats across the country.
The group voting system in Victoria, which is no longer used anywhere else in the country, allows micro-parties to game the system by paying tens of thousands of dollars to 'preference whisperers' to essentially buy a seat in Victoria's Upper House.
Minor parties like the potential National Socialist Network could be elected to the upper house on a tiny vote, leapfrogging others who had received ten times as many votes.
As stated by Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell.
"Neo-nazi groups in Victoria are emboldened right now. They have been taking to our streets and now they are planning to start a political party. With our current group voting ticket system, there's a real possibility we could have Neo-nazis sitting in our Parliament after the next election.
"Labor must abolish this dodgy vote-buying system, or risk neo-nazis paying preference whisperers for a seat in our Parliament."
"Labor has the power to stop these Neo-nazis from joining our parliament before the next election. If we end up with Neo-nazis in parliament at the next election, it will be on Labor."
As stated by Victorian Greens integrity spokesperson, Dr Tim Read:
"The outdated voting system in Victoria's upper house means people can get elected based on backroom deals, when they only get less than one per cent of the vote.
"Nothing about the system is fair or democratic. When a candidate is getting elected over someone with ten times the vote, you know something is wrong."
