Hayne
J
28.
case, "no blemish affecting the taking of the poll and the ballot papers [were]
available to be recounted" (emphasis added). As "the valid choice of the electors
[could] lawfully be ascertained by recounting", it was unnecessary to take a
further poll. That is, no further poll was necessary because "[t]he full number of
qualified senators required [could] be returned in accordance with the Act after a
recount of the ballot papers" 73 (emphasis added).
116
The Full Court having answered the questions referred for its
consideration pursuant to s 377 of the Act, the matter came on for further hearing
before Mason CJ. His Honour gave directions for the further counting and
re-counting of ballot papers and did so 74 as an incident of and for the purpose of
facilitating the exercise of the power given to the Court of Disputed Returns by
s 360(1)(vi) to declare any candidate duly elected who was not returned as
elected. It must be acknowledged that, as the first, third and fourth respondents
to each of the petitions pointed out, the directions given by Mason CJ moulded
the procedures required by the Act to the circumstance that one of the candidates
named on the ballot paper was ineligible for election. But the directions given
did not provide for any departure from, or addition to, the requirements of the
Act regulating the scrutiny beyond recognition of the candidate's ineligibility to
be chosen as a senator.
117
By contrast, what Mr Wang and Mr Mead invite the Court to do in this
case is to adopt a method of ascertaining the result of the polling which is a
method for which the Act does not provide. That step cannot be taken. Because
that is so, the evidence of the records of the original and fresh scrutinies which
bear on the lost ballot papers is not admissible for the purpose of the Court
determining that it should declare any candidate duly elected who was not
returned as elected.
118
The second separate question should therefore be given an answer in two
parts. First, the Court is precluded by s 365 from admitting, for the purpose
described in the proviso to that section, evidence of the records made at the
original and fresh scrutinies that bear on the missing ballot papers. Second, those
records are not admissible for the purpose of the Court determining that it should
declare any candidate duly elected who was not returned as elected.
Third separate question
119
The conclusions just expressed make it unnecessary to deal at any length
with the third separate question, which asks, in effect, whether an inquiry
73
(1988) 167 CLR 145 at 166.
74
(1988) 167 CLR 145 at 172.