On 11 August 2000, Karen Lynn Ehrmann pleaded guilty in proceedings in the District Court of Townsville to 24 counts of forging and 23 counts of uttering Commonwealth Electoral Enrolment forms and was sentenced to three years imprisonment.
During the course of the said proceedings, documents were filed on behalf of Ms Ehrmann alleging the involvement or possible involvement of Australian Labor Party (ALP) members, including elected representatives, in electoral fraud.
On 15 August 2000, allegations were made in the Senate by Senator Brandis that in 1998 Jennifer Hill, an ALP Councillor in the Townsville City Council, fraudulently caused a person to be recorded as a member of the ALP.
On and from 15 August 2000. the Criminal Justice Commission (the Commission) operated, of its own initiative, in conducting preliminary investigations of the allegations referred to above.
By letters to the Commission dated 17 August 2000 and 21 August 2000, the Leader of the Opposition, the Honourable R J Borbidge MLA, submitted that the allegations made by Ms Ehrmann enlivened the jurisdiction of the Commission and called for a full and independent inquiry.
