MARIJUANA PARTY DEBATED ALP DEAL 'OVER A FEW BEERS'

A meeting of supporters of the HEMP party decided "over a few beers" to
give crucial preferences to the ALP in the Ryan by-election after Labor
agreed to help produce their how-to-vote cards, a HEMP operative said
yesterday.

At the same time, police sources confirmed that the HEMP how-to-vote card
did not have the name and business address of the card's printer, as
required by the Commonwealth Electoral Act.

A report by the Federal police into allegations of a preference-swapping
deal between HEMP and the ALP in the March by-election is understood to
have been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The Opposition Leader, Mr Beazley, said he "completely denied" a suggestion
by the HEMP candidate for Ryan, Mr Nigel Freemarijuana, that he knew of a
preference-swapping deal - or any improper behaviour - involving Labor.

"There is a Federal police investigation under way and that investigation
should be allowed to continue without commentary from figures from any
political party," Mr Beazley's spokesperson said.

But the Liberal candidate in Ryan, Mr Bob Tucker, who was defeated by just
255 votes by Labor's Ms Leonie Short, said Labor had been prepared to break
the law to win the Brisbane seat. "We are talking about electoral bribery
here," he said.

Mr Clive Brazier, a supporter of Mr Freemarijuana, said he approached Labor
for help with photocopying how-to-vote cards. He said a Labor figure, Mr
Ron Attwood, agreed that HEMP could photocopy material in the office of his
wife, Ms Julie Attwood, a State Labor MP.

"There wasn't a great amount, but the photocopying was done there as he
said we could," Mr Brazier said.

He said he "might have discussed" preferences with Mr Attwood. "I thought
the main thing was that Ron was sympathetic to our cause generally. He was
very helpful."

Mr Brazier said that after the offer was made, he met Mr Freemarijuana and
another HEMP supporter.

"We decided over a few drinks that the preferences would go to Labor -
that's how it happened," he said.

HEMP's national president, Mr Michael Balderstone, said his party had
understood its preferences were going to the Greens in Ryan, and he was
surprised when he learnt Labor was receiving them.

"It was done without the approval of the party and we don't approve of what
happened," Mr Balderstone said.

Ms Attwood, who said in March there was "no way" she would have allowed
HEMP to photocopy material in her office, declined to comment yesterday on
whether in fact Mr Freemarijuana's supporters were allowed to do so.

Ms Attwood accused the Heraldof interfering with the police investigation
and said it should be allowed to proceed unhindered by outside pressure.

With Mr Freemarijuana attracting 1,700 primary votes, his preferences were
a key factor in Ms Short's victory.

The Commonwealth Electoral Act prohibits the conferring or receiving of
benefits to influence the allocation of preferences. Breaches can attract
fines of up to $5,000 or two years' jail.