Nothing to do with 'conservatives', centre or left, it's radical right libertarian tactics from the US claiming, without evidence, electoral fraud. Therefore, Australia and UK need to follow to help suppress votes of youth, minorities et al. to gain and/or maintain power, why?

Because the US or Anglosphere radical right, masquerading as 'conservative' are paranoid that they may struggle electorally, or at least their proxies esp. 'owned' GOP, as their socio-economic policies are both unpalatable and unacceptable to even 'conservatives' (esp. when pensions become targeted); return to the segregation era of limited franchise for citizens.

At minimum, it to at least cancel out those unlikely to vote the 'right' way which is not about confidence in policies and support, but authoritarianism to ram through policy.

In 3rd world countries, they have a simple solution. Each voter gets a dot of dye on one fingernail that takes about 2 weeks to come off. If you have a dyed fingernail you cannot vote.

This of course doesn't stop the non-citizens from voting.

Andras Smith,

You need to get your act together. You say in your first post, "How smart are Australian conservatives nowadays being led into a US cul de sac that will wreck everything". You don't define 'everything'. Could be the great Marxist plan, I suppose.

Now in your following post, you say it's nothing to do with conservatives.

Not only are you afflicted with the Dunning Kruger Effect, you are also out of control. Like all wind-up Lefties you just let rip with ideological nonsense you don't understand.

The inefficiency and unaccountability of the AEC hides voter fraud. They admitted to 2,102 cases, but blamed it on "confusion". Their confusion?

Voter fraud was up by 125% in the 2016 election. It is unlikely that human behaviour has improved over the last five years; it hasn't in any other area.

The only defence against voter ID seems to be that 'there is no proof'; that certain sections of the public would be 'disenfranchised' and, it's all a "conservative obsession".

There is ample anecdotal evidence of fraud.

Nobody would be disenfranchised.

Calling it conservative obsession is, insultingly, saying that non-conservatives don't care about voter fraud, and raises the suspicion that they might be in on it. The Left is identified with the 'vote early vote often' crack, of course.

As right of centre politicians have been in power for most of the last seventy five years, it's a bit ridiculous to believe that they are pushing for voter ID to advantage themselves. Amoral leftist ideologues don't seem to be aware of the quest for honesty and integrity as a principle and a fair go for everyone. It's all about winning for them. Anything goes; and that’s why voter fraud must be dealt with for decent people on both sides of the political spectrum. We need to know, and be able to respect, that those elected are those honestly wanted by the majority of Australians.

Dear ShadowMinister,

«In 3rd world countries, they have a simple solution. Each voter gets a dot of dye on one fingernail that takes about 2 weeks to come off.»

Indeed, and that allowed the Taliban to chop off the fingers of those who voted. It could also allow government to chop off the fingers of those who didn't.

Anyway, that system would have merit if it replaced the current one rather than be added on top - just imagine the relief if we were not even legally required to have names for government to "identify" us!

Y,

Seriously!!

I went for a blood test today; I had to show my Medicare card. Not hard. Would be no harder to do at a polling booth. That card and similar is one of the IDs mooted for voting.