Bill
Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Stop the Lies) Bill 2022
lapsed, as at 2023-08-01.
- Sponsor
- Zali Steggall
- Portfolio
- Not recorded
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2022-11-28
- second reading — 2022-11-28
- other — 2023-08-01
Divisions
No divisions recorded. Most questions are decided on the voices; this does not establish that a bill was unopposed.
Plain-language summary
Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2022-11-28.
This bill is part of a package that would change the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 to stop false or misleading content in election and referendum materials.
It would ban statements of fact that are materially deceptive, and also ban pretending to be someone else or wrongly claiming material is from a candidate, party, or group.
The Electoral Commissioner could investigate, demand retractions, publish corrections, and take cases to court, with fines up to 50 penalty units for individuals and 250 for companies.
- Prohibits electoral or referendum material that has a statement of fact which is materially misleading or deceptive.
- Prohibits deceptively impersonating a person, candidate, campaigner, party, or entity, or falsely attributing material to them.
- Gives the Electoral Commissioner power to investigate breaches, order retractions, publish corrections, and pursue complaints through courts.
Voters, candidates, campaigners, political parties, and bodies corporate involved in elections or referendums.
Sources
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