2022 Federal Election: Summary of authorisation investigations

For the 2022 Federal Election the following table summarises communications of election matter that did not comply with authorisation requirements in s 321D of the Electoral Act and/or the Authorisation Determination between the issuing and return of the writs, 11 April - 23 June 2022. The table notes the persons or entities warned and the outcomes of those correspondence.

Please note the number of warning letters sent do not correspond to the number of breaches detected (180) in the first 2022 Federal Election investigations and breaches table, as some letters addressed multiple breaches.

For information on other compliance and enforcement activities, see more.

Date of breach(es) 

Entity 

Communication type 

Alleged breach 

Outcome 

11-Apr-22

Join The Conversation

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

11-Apr-22

Advance Australia

Social media 

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

13-Apr-22

Independent candidate

Print and clothing

s 329
(Similar colours to AEC)

Resolved – purple colours ceased

13-Apr-22

PHON candidate

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter, and s329 (Similar colours to AEC)

Resolved – electoral matter removed

13-Apr-22

‘Support Michael’

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed 

14-Apr-22

Reignite Democracy Australia

Print 

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

14-Apr-22

PHON candidate

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter 

Resolved – electoral matter removed 

19-Apr-22

Great Australia Party  

Social media 

s 329 (Similar colours to AEC)

Resolved - matter removed 

19-Apr-22

Stand up and Vote Australia  

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter and use of AEC logo

Resolved – electoral matter removed 

19-Apr-22

Independent MP  

Social media 

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

19-Apr-22

Independent candidate

Print and website  

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

13-Apr-22

Independent candidate

Print 

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

19-Apr-22

Labor MP 

Print 

s 329 (Similar colours to AEC)

Resolved – ceased distribution of colour purple 

19-Apr-22

UAP Candidate

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

19-Apr-22

Medical Options Party

Print 

Technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

19-Apr-22

Australian Education Union

Print 

Technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

19-Apr-22

Liberal MP 

Print 

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – ceased distribution

19-Apr-22

Liberal Senator  

Social media

Technical breach  

Resolved – authorisation amended

13-Apr-22

PHON candidate  

Social media and website

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

14-Apr-22

Advance Australia  

Social media 

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

21-Apr-22

Liberal Party of Australia Victorian Division

Print 

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – ceased distribution

18-Apr-22

Indigenous-Aboriginal Party of Australia

Social media 

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

19-Apr-22

UAP candidate

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

26-Apr-22

Australia One candidate

Print, social media and web page   

Unauthorised electoral matter Technical Breach

Resolved – social electoral removed/ authorisation amended

26-Apr-22

Greens candidate  

Social media  

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

26-Apr-22

Plant Essentials

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – ceased distribution

21-Apr-22

Independent candidate  

Printed 

Technical Breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

11-Apr-22

Australian Council of Trade Unions

Social media 

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

27-Apr-22

F F Group  

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – ceased distribution

27-Apr-22

Independent candidate  

Social media

 Technical breach

Resolved - authorisation amended

27-Apr-22

Independent candidate  

Social media and website

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

27-Apr-22

Nationals MP

Print 

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

27-Apr-22

Reignite Democracy Australia

Video   

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

27-Apr-22

Australian Education Union

Print 

Technical breach 

Resolved – authorisation amended

27-Apr-22

Independent candidate

Social media and print

Technical Breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

26-Apr-22

Liberal Party

Print

Technical Breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

20-Apr-22

Liberal Party candidate

Video

Technical Breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

26-Apr-22

Independent candidate

Social media/ Video

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

28-Apr-22

United Australia Party

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

28-Apr-22

Independent candidate

Print sticker

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved - authorisation amended

28-Apr-22

Common Law Australia

Print and website

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

29-Apr-22

PHON

Social media videos

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

3-May-22

AFL Solicitors

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

27-Apr-22

Australian Greens

Social media and print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

2-May-22

The Australia Project

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

3-May-22

UAP candidate

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter and technical breach

Resolved - authorisation amended

4-May-22

Labor MP

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

4-May-22

Greens candidate

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

4-May-22

Animal Justice Party Candidate

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

4-May-22

MP LNP

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

4-May-22

Greens candidate

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

3-May-22

Independent candidate

Print and social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved - electoral matter amended

4-May-22

The Nationals

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – ceased future distribution

4-May-22

Independent Candidate

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended / matter removed

5-May-22

PML

Website

Technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

5-May-22

Labor Party

Social media

Technical breach

Resolved – unauthorised matter removed

5-May-22

PHON

Social media

Technical breach

Resolved – electoral matter removed

5-May-22

Liberal Party

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – distribution ceased

5-May-22

Trek2Health

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – distribution ceased

9-May-22

Climate Action Now

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

9-May-22

Unknown

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

9-May-22

Independent MP

Pint

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

9-May-22

Independent Candidate

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

9-May-22

Liberal Party

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

9-May-22

The Greens

Social media

Technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

10-May-22

Independent Candidate

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

10-May-22

Labor Party

Social media

s 329 (using AEC image)

Resolved – post removed

10-May-22

Independent Candidate

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

10-May-22

Independent Candidate

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved - authorisation amended

10-May-22

PHON

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

10-May-22

Nationals Candidate

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

10-May-22

UAP Candidate

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

10-May-22

Democratic Alliance

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

10-May-22

Nationals

Phone calls

Technical breach

Resolved – calls ceased

10-May-22

The Greens

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

10-May-22

UAP

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – distribution ceased

10-May-22

NCDCA

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

10-May-22

Labor MP

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

9-May-22

Liberal candidate

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

11-May-22

Independent Candidate

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

11-May-22

A parish in Qld

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – ceased future distribution

11-May-22

Smart Voting

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

11-May-22

IMOP Party

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – video removed

11-May-22

Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

11-May-22

Labor MP

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

12-May-22

UAP

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

12-May-22

CLP

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

12-May-22

Independent Candidate

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

12-May-22

Independent MP

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

13-May-22

Independent Candidate

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

13-May-22

Labor Party

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

13-May-22

Sustainable Australia Party

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

13-May-22

Independent Candidate

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

13-May-22

Independent MP

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

14-May-22

Liberal Party

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – electoral matter removed / authorisation amended

14-May-22

Greens

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

14-May-22

Individual elector

Print and online video

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

14-May-22

Liberal MP

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

14-May-22

Labor MP

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

15-May-22

Liberal Party

Print

Technical breach

 Resolved – authorisation amended

16-May-22

Liberal MP

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

15-May-22

Independent Candidate

 Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

15-May-22

Independent Candidate

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – rectified

16-May-22

Young Liberals

Social media

Technical breach

Resolved – rectified

16-May-22

Labor MP

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

16-May-22

Greens

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – electoral matter removed

16-May-22

Young Labor

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

16-May-22

Australian Federation Party candidate

Social media and website

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

16-May-22

Labor Senator

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

16-May-22

Liberal MP

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

16-May-22

Liberal candidate

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

17-May-22

Labor MP

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

17-May-22

Independent Candidate

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

17-May-22

Labor Senator

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

17-May-22

Liberal Senator

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

16-May-22

Labor MP

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

16-May-22

Labor MP

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

16-May-22

Labor MP

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

17-May-22

Liberal MP

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

17-May-22

UAP

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

16-May-22

Victorian Socialists

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved - authorisation amended

11-May-22

Liberal MP

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

18-May-22

Coast Community News

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – ceased future distribution

18-May-22

Independent Candidate

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

18-May-22

Toshco Music

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – ceased future distribution

18-May-22

Independent Candidate

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

18-May-22

Northern Beaches Liberals

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

18-May-22

Independent Candidate

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – ceased future distribution

18-May-22

Individual elector

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – distribution ceased

18-May-22

Liberal Senator

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – ceased future distribution

18-May-22

Liberal Party of Australia

Social media

Technical breach

Resolved - ceased future distribution

18-May-22

United Australia Party candidate

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

18-May-22

Tasmanian Liberals

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved - Social media authorisation amended

18-May-22

Unknown source

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed by local council

18-May-22

Australian Labor Party

Print

Technical Breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

18-May-22

Great Australia Party

Website and print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

19-May-22

Independent Candidate

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – ceased future distribution

21-May-22

Queensland Council of Unions

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – rectified

19-May-22

WA Labor

print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

19-May-22

Independent Candidate

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

21-May-22

Australian Labor Party

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter amended

19-May-22

Australian Labor Party

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

19-May-22

Independent candidate

Social media video

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

21-May-22

Drew Pavlou Democratic Alliance

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Partial Resolution – authorisation amended

21-May-22

Australian Labor Party

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

21-May-22

Independent MP

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

21-May-22

Liberal National Party

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

21-May-22

NSW Labor

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

20-May-22

Independent candidate

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – ceased future distribution

20-May-22

PHON

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved– electoral matter removed

21-May-22

Australian Labor Party

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

21-May-22

Australian Labor Party

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

19-May-22

Australian Greens

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

19-May-22

Independent Candidate

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

19-May-22

Australian Labor Party

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – rectified

19-May-22

Liberal Party

Voicemail

Technical breach

Resolved – ceased future distribution

19-May-22

Ben & Jerry’s

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

14-May-22

Central Coast Liberals

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

21-May-22

Independent Candidate

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – ceased future distribution

21-May-22

Australian Labor Party

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – electoral matter removed

21-May-22

Individual elector

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – ceased future distribution

21-May-22

United Australia Party

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – rectified

21-May-22

Liberal Party of Australia

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – ceased future distribution

21-May-22

Independent Candidate

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – ceased future distribution

A technical breach refers to where the authorisation particulars included details allowing members of the public to identify the person or entity communicating the electoral matter, but the authorisation was not compliant with the technical requirements of s 321D of the Electoral Act and the Determination. For example:

  • the address of the disclosure entity identified in the authorisation did not include the State or Territory or
  • the authorisation contained the particulars required under s 321D and the Determination but was not located at the end of the communication.
Updated: 27 March 2024