Bill
Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Voter Protections in Political Advertising) Bill 2023
lapsed, as at 2024-07-02.
- Sponsor
- Zali Steggall
- Portfolio
- Not recorded
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2023-11-13
- second reading — 2023-11-13
- other — 2024-07-02
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 2023-11-13.
This bill is part of a package of two bills that would change the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 to ban misleading or deceptive content in elections and referendums.
The Electoral Commissioner could investigate breaches, order retractions, and take complaints to court, and people could also report breaches but courts could dismiss applications that are frivolous or vexatious.
Individuals who break the law could be fined up to 50 penalty units, and companies up to 250 penalty units.
- The bill bans electoral or referendum material containing factually false or deceptive statements.
- The bill bans pretending to be someone else or falsely attributing material to a person, candidate, or party.
- The bill extends protections from the moment of casting a vote to the earlier stage of forming voting preferences.
Voters, candidates, political parties, campaigners, and bodies corporate are affected.
Sources
em
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