14/08/2026
Kingstonβs Melaleuca Ward by-election has been plunged into crisis after the Herald Sun revealed that the Victorian Electoral Commission had detected suspected postal-ballot fraud and was referring the declared result to VCAT.
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Kingstonβs Melaleuca Ward by-election has been plunged into crisis after the Herald Sun revealed that the Victorian Electoral Commission had detected suspected postal-ballot fraud and was referring the declared result to VCAT.
Labor-aligned candidate Nikki Kaur was sworn in after defeating Glenn Dumbrell by just 225 votes following the distribution of preferences.
The official result was Kaur 4,336 votes to Dumbrellβs 4,111, with the VEC presently listing the election as finalised. (They are required to declare the election).
Council Watch has separately received serious allegations from witnesses who say they observed aspects of the ballot handling and counting process.
They claim photocopied ballot papers may have been introduced into the official vote, ballots were incorrectly counted, ballot material was allegedly tampered with outside normal VEC operating hours, ballots were not properly secured against interference, and some ballot papers appeared to have been amended.
Witnesses further claim that ballots they believed had been interfered with appeared to favour the Labor-aligned candidates.
These are untested allegations. Council Watch has not independently proven them, and no court or tribunal has made findings against any candidate, the Labor Party, VEC staff or any other person.
There is presently no evidence establishing that Ms Kaur knew about, authorised or participated in any alleged interference.
VCAT has several options. It can declare that the announced winner was not duly elected, declare another candidate elected, order a justified recount or declare the entire election void.
If the election is declared void, Ms Kaurβs position becomes vacant on the day of VCATβs declaration. A replacement by-election would ordinarily have to be held within 100 days, although that can be extended to 150 days where school or public holidays disrupt the timetable.
The declared result therefore stands while the VCAT challenge is heard - but not after any order voiding the election. The combined legal and electoral process could leave Melaleuca residents facing months of uncertainty, potentially approaching six months overall.
With only 225 votes separating the final candidates, every questionable ballot matters. The VEC should release, as soon as legally possible, the number and type of ballots under suspicion, count discrepancies, access records, security logs, CCTV information and the precise orders being sought from VCAT.
Public confidence cannot be restored by secrecy. It requires the full truth.
It is not lost on Council Watch that a Labor aligned candidate could give a majority control of Kingston Council to other "aligned" councillors. It is also not lost on us that this is with the State election looming in the background, where Labor is under enormous pressure to maintain seats in the Kingston area.
