LIBS FUMING OVER RYAN MARIJUANA 'BRIBERY'

Allegations of bribery in the Ryan by-election had thrown the legitimacy of
Labor's narrow win into doubt, the Liberals said yesterday.

Liberal state director Graham Jaeschke said Hemp party candidate Nigel
Freemarijuana had admitted directing preferences to Labor in exchange for
permission to photocopy campaign material at the electorate office of a
state MP.

"This election was decided by around 240 votes with the marijuana candidate
getting 1700 primary votes so his preferences were absolutely vital for the
ALP win," Mr Jaeschke said.

"It really throws doubts on the legitimacy of the ALP victory in Ryan."

He said he would today ask the Australian Electoral Commission to investigate.

Liberal candidate Bob Tucker conceded the election on Saturday with Labor's
Leonie Short holding an unassailable lead of 238 votes and only a small
number of postal votes left to count.

Mr Freemarijuana reportedly claimed the photocopying had taken place at the
office of Mount Ommaney MP Julie Attwood and that he abused Ms Short at a
polling booth on election day after discovering he was last on Labor
how-to-vote cards.

"I gave my preferences to Leonie Short because they (ALP) helped me out
with photocopying," Mr Freemarijuana told the Sunday Mail newspaper.

"They (the ALP) didn't make a donation to my campaign but they had one of
their lackeys helping out."

He refused to discuss the allegations when contacted by The Australian
yesterday.

"I wouldn't know about political deals," he said.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie, whose Government has only recently
emerged from an electoral rorts scandal, said he had spoken to Ms Attwood
and she denied the allegation.

"They can have it examined if they want, they can have it examined by the
federal police or Houdini," Mr Beattie said.

"I've spoken to Julie Attwood; she says it's not true and I believe her."

Mr Jaeschke claimed Hemp party preferences were flowing heavily to the ALP
during the count.

"I was scrutineering and I was very surprised to see so many number twos in
the ALP box from Nigel and that only tells me that people followed those
how-to-vote cards," he said.

Ms Short was unable to be contacted for comment yesterday.