AEC petitions High Court for new WA poll

THE Australian Electoral Commission has lodged a petition with the Court of Disputed Returns seeking a new West Australian Senate election.

That petition, lodged with the High Court registry on Friday, seeks an order from the court that the WA Senate election of six senators be declared void.

The AEC said the petition was based on loss of 1,370 ballot papers which likely affected the outcome, given the close margins for the final two senators.

"As the matter is now before the court the AEC will not be making any further comment," it said in a statement.

When the AEC sought to conduct a recount and realised the ballot papers were missing, it appointed former Australian federal Police commissioner Mick Keelty to investigate.

His inquiry is continuing.