2024 Dunkley by election: Summary of authorisation investigations

For the 2024 Dunkley by-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 29 January and 12 March 2024. The table notes the persons or entities warned and the outcomes of those correspondence.

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

Date of breach(es)

Entity

Communication type

Alleged breach

Outcome

26-Feb-24

Australia First Party

Print

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – ceased future distribution

1-Mar-24

Individual Elector

Social media

Unauthorised paid-for electoral matter

Resolved – paid-for post removed

5-Feb-24

Labor candidate 

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matte

Resolved – authorisation amended

14-Feb-24

Independent candidate 

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – authorisation amended

19-Feb-24

Australian Democrats candidate 

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter and technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

19-Feb-24

Australian Democrats

Video podcast

Unauthorised electoral matter and technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

20-Feb-24

Australian Democrats

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

22-Feb-24

Victorian Socialists candidate

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – authorisation amended

26-Feb-24

Liberal Party (Victorian branch)

Social media

Unauthorised paid-for electoral matter

Resolved – paid-for post removed

2-Mar-24

Video published by The Guardian

Video

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – video removed

2-Mar-24

Labor candidate 

Social media

Unauthorised electoral matter

Resolved – video removed

2-Mar-24

Community and Pharmacy Support group

Print

Technical breach

Resolved – ceased future distribution

2-Mar-24

Animal Justice Party

Social media

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