source : the age
The electoral watchdog has cleared Ali France following an investigation into claims the Queensland federal Labor MP is enrolled to vote at a vacant block of land.
France, who unseated Peter Dutton in Brisbane’s outer northern suburbs electorate in the 2025 election, was referred to the Australian Electoral Commission by LNP senator James McGrath.
The commission revealed on Monday afternoon it had found no evidence France had broken enrolment laws, siding with the MP who had said the Arana Hills property within her federal seat of Dickson had been demolished to rebuild a home that better suited her accessibility needs.
The MP had maintained she was temporarily living at her investment property in the Gap, which is located in the neighbouring electorate of Ryan.
“A person may remain enrolled at an address when temporarily living elsewhere if they have a fixed intention of returning for the purpose of continuing to live at that place,” an AEC spokesman told this masthead.
“This enrolment provision is designed to cover situations where a person is unable to live at their enrolled address while the property is being renovated or rebuilt.”
Last month, this masthead revealed McGrath had doubled down and asked the watchdog to consider a town planning application indicating France’s property outside the electorate was proposed to be her primary residence.
The development application to Brisbane City Council, dated from November 2024, before the May 2025 election, includes a letter from a town planner writing on France’s behalf arguing the pre-approval for a subdivision of the property on the grounds the proposed development would be her home.
But the AEC dismissed the claim.
“The AEC have examined the allegation and found no evidence of non-compliance with the enrolment requirements in the Electoral Act,” the spokesman said.
France was contacted for comment.
The result comes after the Australian Federal Police cleared Queensland Sport Minister Tim Mander following its enrolment probe.
The state LNP minister was referred by the AEC over claims he falsely enrolled to vote at a staffer’s home while living elsewhere.
Mander was stood down from cabinet during the investigation and later reinstated after the AFP confirmed last month “no offence has been determined”.
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James Hall is the News Director at the Brisbane Times. He is the former Queensland correspondent at The Australian Financial Review and has reported for a range of mastheads across the country, specialising on political and finance reporting.Connect via X or email.
