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Australian Electoral Commission
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) publishes Backgrounders to introduce electoral and referendum law, policy and procedures as information and guidance to all stakeholders.
The content of this Backgrounder is a guide only. The AEC does not approve electoral or referendum communications for publication, nor does the AEC provide legal advice on whether a particular communication complies with the legislative requirements. The AEC assesses communications on a case-by-case basis.
If you are unsure about the requirements in your circumstances, seek your own independent legal advice. The AEC’s guidance is – ‘when in doubt, authorise it’.
The AEC reserves the right to take any available action to enforce the authorisation requirements.
Note: The authorisation requirements for broadcast political communications (either by television or radio) generally align with the authorisation requirements for electoral communications. The Australian Communications & Media Authority (ACMA) regulates broadcast political communications. Please refer to the ACMA for further information.
The authorisation requirements are established by the following legislation:
Note: In March 2023, Parliament passed the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Amendment Act 2023 which amended the Electoral Act and the Referendum Act. Relevantly, amended Parts include the authorisation and funding and disclosure schemes. You should ensure you are complying with the latest requirements.
The AEC is responsible for administering the laws in the Electoral Act and the Referendum Act that deal with communication of electoral matter and referendum matter.
The AEC does not regulate:
In addition, the AEC has no power to restrict the amount or method of electoral communications.
The purpose of the authorisation requirements is to promote free and informed voting at federal electoral or referendum events by enhancing:
The following communications need to be authorised:
This Backgrounder provides guidance for the authorisation requirements for these different types of communications.
It is a breach of the Electoral Act and the Referendum Act for a foreign campaigner to authorise electoral or referendum communications.
A foreign campaigner is, broadly, an individual or entity that does not have a connection with Australia. For example:
Note: there are also expenditure restrictions for foreign campaigners, see here.
A. An electoral communication is the communication of ‘electoral matter’.
A. ‘Electoral matter’ is matter that is communicated, or intended to be communicated, for the dominant purpose of influencing the way electors vote in a federal election of a member of the House of Representatives or of Senators for a State or Territory (section 4AA of the Electoral Act).
Subsections 4AA(1)-(5) contain further guidance to determine whether matter is ‘electoral matter’. For example, unless the contrary is proved, the dominant purpose of a communication is presumed to be electoral matter (by section 4AA(3)), if the matter expressly promotes or opposes:
The following matters must be taken into account when determining the dominant purpose of a communication or intended communication of matter (under section 4AA(4)):
A. The communication of electoral matter will require an authorisation if it is:
Example 1: A member of the House of Representatives or Senator publishes a newsletter in that person’s electorate or State which promotes that person’s work and their party’s policies / actions.
Whether this newsletter is electoral matter will depend on the proximity of the publication to the next federal election. To be electoral matter, the matter must be communicated for the dominant purpose of influencing the way electors vote in a federal election. As such, this will be a matter of fact based on the content of the communication and the timing of its release.
Scenario A: A member of the House of Representatives publishes a newsletter that is dropped in the letterboxes of houses in that member’s electorate after the writs for a federal election have been issued. The newsletter promotes the member’s work and the policies of the member’s registered political party. In this scenario, the newsletter is likely to satisfy the factors in s 4AA to be electoral matter, namely the proximity of the next federal election, that the newsletter promotes a ‘political entity’ (i.e. a member of the House of Representatives), the communication is public and it is unsolicited.
Scenario B: A member of the House of Representatives publishes a newsletter that is dropped in the letterboxes of houses in that member’s electorate six months after a federal election. The newsletter introduces the new member for the electorate, provides contact details of the member’s electoral office, outlines the policies and achievements of the member’s party so far but the newsletter does not mention voting or a federal election. In this case the newsletter would be unlikely to be electoral matter. Although the newsletter is to the public and is unsolicited, the matter is not communicated for the dominant purpose of influencing the way electors vote in a federal election given the next federal election is not due for up to three years and there is no explicit mention of a federal election. Whilst the member receives promotion as a result of the newsletter’s distribution, the dominant purpose of the communication is not to influence electors or promote the member in relation to a federal election.
Example 2: The leader of a registered political party publishes a video on social media promoting the party’s policy position/action on a particular matter
Whether the video will contain electoral matter will depend on the timing and content of the video in the same way as the newsletter in Example 1. However, the video can be circulated and can continue to be viewed on social media well after it is published. A social media video promoting a policy announcement six months after an election could become an electoral issue in two years. At that point it will be too late to authorise the video as it may have been shared and circulated. It is therefore recommended that where a political entity publishes matter on social media it should contain an imprinted authorisation, such as at the bottom of an image or as the last slide or image of a video.
Example 3: A non-government organisation responds to a Government policy announcement
As part of the budget, the Government announces a package of public policies intended to address homelessness. A national peak body for homelessness organisations issues a media release which welcomes some of the proposals, but also outlines concerns with some of them. The media release states that the package as a whole won’t be enough to make significant progress addressing the problem of homelessness in Australia. The media release also states a number of public policies which the peak body would like the Government to adopt. The CEO of the peak body reiterates these points in a professionally-produced video interview. The media release and a link to the video interview are shared on social media and distributed to the peak body’s members in a weekly email newsletter. These communications (the media release, the interview, the social media post and the newsletter) are not likely to be electoral matter, as their dominant purpose is not to influence the way electors vote in an election. Rather, the dominant purpose is to educate the public, raise awareness and encourage debate on a public policy issue.
Example 4: A non-government organisation supports the policy of a candidate
Two candidates are contesting a seat in the upcoming election:
An advocacy group focussed on public fiscal sustainability supports Candidate A’s proposal, as it would further their mission of ensuring future generations are not subject to public debt. The advocacy group conducts a public education campaign seeking to educate the public about the role resource charging can play in fiscal sustainability. The factors in section 4AA(4) must be considered in determining whether the advocacy group’s campaign is, or is not, electoral matter. The key question that must be answered, using these factors and any other relevant matters (such as a statement of intent, or program logic) is: is the advocacy group’s dominant purpose in conducting the campaign to educate the public, or to influence voters so that a candidate more favourable to their policy position on the issue is elected? Section 4AA(4) factors relevant to answering this question include the following:
More affirmative answers to these questions would make it more likely the campaign’s dominant purpose is to influence the way electors vote in an election.
A. A ‘disclosure entity’ is defined in section 321B of the Electoral Act to include:
A ‘disclosure entity’ that is not an individual is required to include more details in their authorisation of an electoral communication (e.g. see Items 1 and 2 of the table in section 321D(5) of the Electoral Act).
A. The notifying entity is responsible for ensuring an electoral communication has an appropriate authorisation (section 321D(5)).
A. A ‘notifying entity’ is defined in sections 321D(1)(a)–(c) of the Electoral Act to be:
The ‘notifying entity’ is responsible for ensuring that certain particulars set out in the table in section 321D(5) are included in any communications that contain ‘electoral matter’.
A matter may be communicated on behalf of a disclosure entity whether or not the entity pays for the communication of the matter. For example, where a candidate, Senator or member of the House of Representatives communicates electoral matter referring to the policies or decisions of that person’s political party, it will be assumed that this matter is communicated on behalf of the political party and therefore the political party is the notifying entity, even if the person receives indirect promotion as a result. However, if a candidate, Senator or member of the House of Representatives is simply advising voters in their electorate about their program of visits to different towns, this electoral matter may not necessarily be communicated on behalf of the political party. In this case it will be assumed that the matter is communicated by the candidate, Senator or member of the House of Representatives and that person is the notifying entity.
Note that the person or entity who authorises the communication may also have a disclosure obligation under Part XX of the Electoral Act if they incur expenditure on electoral matter above the disclosure threshold.
The content of the authorisation particulars will depend on the type of communication and who is responsible for the communication. Please refer to the table in section 321D(5) of the Electoral Act which shows the required authorisation particulars.
Note: under section 321D(5A) or (5B) registered political parties must use either the name of the party as it appears on the Register of Political Parties (registered name) or a condensed version of a registered name. The condensed name can either be a registered abbreviation of a registered branch/division of a political party or the name which results from omitting any of the following words from a registered name:
For example: the registered name ‘Quokka Party 5 of Australia Inc.—NSW’ may be notified as ‘Quokka Party.’
Disclosure entities that are not registered political parties must use the name which appears on the Transparency Register.
This flow chart may assist you in determining your authorisation requirements.
A. The relevant town or city will depend on circumstances of the individual or entity authorising the communication:
A postcode is not legally required but it is up to the authoriser (individual or entity) to what form the authorisation will take in its final form. A PO Box address is not sufficient for the street address of the person or entity.
A. The language requirements for communications are set out in s 11(4) and s 12(4) of the Determination as follows:
A. The particulars must be printed at the end of the communication (s 11(2)(b) of the Determination).
A. The authorisation particulars must meet all of the formatting requirements in s 11(3) of the Determination, i.e. the particulars must:
To ensure compliance with these formatting requirements, the colour of the authorisation particulars should not bleed or blend in with the background colour. If a person or entity seeking to print an electoral communication is uncertain about appropriate colours, then seek advice from printers on what text colour will contrast best with the background colours.
If there are time sensitivities, it is possible for a sticker to be used to affix the authorisation particulars to the printed communication. However, care must be taken to ensure that the sticker does not fade or fall off and therefore cause the printed communication to be in breach of the authorisations requirements.
Example 1 – A candidate’s corflute is in an A-frame outside 6m from the entrance of a polling place. The frame covers the authorisation particulars at the bottom of the corflute. The particulars are not legible in this scenario.
Example 2 – A billboard promoting a candidate is displayed on the side of a major road. The background is a picture of the beach which prominently shows the sandy shore and the authorisation particulars are in a thin, white font. The particulars are not reasonably prominent, legible at the distance they are intended to be read or do not contrast with the background in this scenario. In addition, the particulars are placed over a complex pictorial background.
Example 3 – A significant third party places an unframed corflute outside 6m from the entrance of a polling place. The corflute is predominantly canary yellow and the authorisation particulars are white. The text of the particulars do not contrast sufficiently with the background.
A. No. The authorisation particulars for electoral matter published in newspapers and journals aligns with the authorisation particulars for other types of printed communications.
A. No. 2021 amendments to the Electoral Act removed the requirement for the authorisation of printed electoral matter to include the printer details.
A. The authorisation particulars must meet all of the formatting requirements in s 12(3) of the Determination, i.e. the particulars must:
The placement of the authorisation particulars for other communications depends on the type. These are addressed in more detail below.
A. At the beginning of the communication, s 12(2)(a) of the Determination.
A. Communications for personal purposes will not require an authorisation.
A. The disclosure entity must authorise the communication as they have approved the content (the script) of what was communicated by the call centre. The call centre and the provider of the telephone service used by the call centre do not authorise the matter communicated as the call centre and the telephone service provider did not make the decision to communicate the content.
A. No. Speeches that are communicated live at a meeting do not require authorisation (section 321D(4) of the Electoral Act). But any subsequent communication (including republishing online) of that speech may require an authorisation.
A. Whether you had the opportunity to read over the speech and request edits before approving it, you as the speaker have ‘authorised’ the speech, as you have ultimate control over what you say or will not say and by reading the speech, you are approving it in the form you deliver.
A. The authorising particulars must be announced and shown at the end of the communication, s 12(2)(b) of the Determination.
A. Yes. The authorisation details for films that contain referendum matter are the same as for any other video, or communication which consists of moving visual images with speech, music or other sounds (see s12(2)(b) of the Determination).
A. The authorisation particulars for electronic billboards and other similar devices must be at the end of the communication, s 12(2)(c) of the Determination.
A. At the end of the communication or on a webpage that can be accessed by a URL that is included, either in whole or as a hyperlink.
A. Yes. If the text message contains electoral matter then the text message is required to include authorisation particulars.
A. Depends. Social media content (e.g. communications on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) will require an authorisation if the communication includes electoral matter that is communicated:
A. Section 12(2)(d) of the Determination requires the particulars must be notified through one or more of the following ways:
Example 1: A member of the House of Representatives or Senator posts on Twitter during an election period about their campaign and why electors should vote for them.
Section 12(d)(iv) of the Determination allows a notifying entity who is an individual, such as a candidate or Senator or member of the House of Representatives to place their authorisation particulars in the ‘About Us’ or ‘Contact Us’ section (however described) if that section is directly linked to, or can be accessed by, clicking a link in the communications. In these circumstances, every social media post does not need to be authorised with the exception of paid electoral advertising.
Note 1: this section does not allow entities or groups, such as registered political parties, significant third parties or associated entities to use this feature. If these entities make social media posts containing electoral matter, every single post must include the authorisation particulars.
Note 2: this section applies to text posts only. If an individual is publishing a Facebook live to remain on their page, an Instagram video or a TikTok, then this communication falls within a video communication and the authorisation particulars must be spoken and announced at the end.
Example 2: A candidate pays a social media platform for a post that contains electoral matter to be sponsored (a paid electoral advertisement). The advertisement is in the form of a text post above an image.
To achieve the objects of the Electoral Act, every paid electoral advertisement must include the authorisation particulars at the end of the individual communication. This includes paid electoral advertisement published by a candidate, member of the House of Representatives, a Senator or any other individual. The author of the content must have regard to the fact that the post can be reposted/shared, and that the post may be viewed in a different format, such as on a computer or on a mobile.
A. No. Social media content will not require an authorisation if it is communicated for personal purposes, for instance to personal friends only.
A. Depends. If the original post contains electoral matter that required authorisation, it must be authorised by the original communicator. If you repost this original post:
A. The authorisation requirements for emails containing electoral matter are the same as those for other ‘non-printed’ types of communication – i.e. text messages, social media platforms etc. (as discussed above).
Under the definition of ‘relevant town or city’ in section 321B of the Electoral Act, the name of a town or city must be included in the authorisation; a post office box is not sufficient. Please refer above for the definition of ‘relevant town or city’.
A. Yes. As long as the notifying particulars are contained in the email, it is sufficient to contain the authorisation in the signature block.
A. Authorisation particulars must be included in an email in one or more of the following ways:
A. The authorisation for a website that contains electoral matter should appear in the footer of the website (s 12(2)(d)(iii) of the Determination).
A. Yes. The authorisation particulars are similar to those that apply to social media or webpages. Section 12(2)(d) of the Determination requires the authorisation particulars must be either:
A. Yes. The authorisation details for mobile phone and computer applications are to be:
A. For a mobile phone application or a computer application, s 12(2)(d) of the Determination requires the particulars must be notified:
Note: In March 2023, Parliament passed the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Amendment Act 2023 which amended the Electoral Act and the Referendum Act. Relevantly, amended Parts include the authorisation and funding and disclosure schemes. You should ensure you are complying with the latest requirements.
A. A referendum communication is the communication of ‘referendum matter’.
A. ‘Referendum matter’ is matter that is communicated, or intended to be communicated, for the dominant purpose of influencing the way electors vote at a referendum (section 3AA of the Referendum Act).
Subsections 3AA(1)-(6) contain further guidance to determine whether matter is ‘referendum matter’. For example, unless the contrary is proved, the dominant purpose of a communication is presumed to be referendum matter (by section 3AA(4)), if the matter expressly promotes or opposes a proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution, to the extent that the matter relates to a referendum.
The following matters must be taken into account when determining the dominant purpose of a communication or intended communication of matter (under section 3AA(5)):
A. The following types of referendum communications require an authorisation:
A. A ‘disclosure entity’ is defined in section 110A of the Referendum Act to include:
A ‘disclosure entity’ that is not an individual is required to include more details in their authorisation of a referendum communication (e.g. see Items 1 and 2 of the table in section 110C(5) of the Referendum Act).
A. A ‘referendum entity’ is defined in section 3(1) of the Referendum Act to mean a person or entity that incurs referendum expenditure during a referendum expenditure period that exceeds the disclosure threshold. See section 3AAA and Part VIIIA of the of the Referendum Act for further information.
A. The notifying entity is responsible for ensuring a referendum communication has an appropriate authorisation (section 110C(5)).
A. A ‘notifying entity’ is defined in sections 110C (1)(a)(c) of the Referendum Act to be:
The ‘notifying entity’ is responsible for ensuring that certain particulars set out in the table in section 110C(5) are included in any communications that contain ‘referendum matter’.
A matter may be communicated on behalf of a disclosure entity whether or not the entity pays for the communication of the matter. For example, where a Senator or member of the House of Representatives communicates referendum matter referring to the policies or decisions of that person’s political party, it will be assumed that this matter is communicated on behalf of the political party and therefore the political party is the notifying entity, even if the person receives indirect promotion as a result. However, if a Senator or member of the House of Representatives is simply advising voters in their electorate about their program of visits to different towns, this referendum matter may not necessarily be communicated on behalf of the political party. In this case it will be assumed that the matter is communicated by the Senator or member of the House of Representatives and that person is the notifying entity.
Note that the person or entity who authorises the communication may also have a disclosure obligation under Part VIIIA of the Referendum Act if they incur expenditure on referendum communications above the disclosure threshold.
The content of the authorisation particulars will depend on the type of communication and who is responsible for the communication. Please refer to the table in section 110C(5) of the Referendum Act which shows the required authorisation particulars.
This flow chart may assist you in determining your authorisation requirements.
A. The relevant town or city will depend on circumstances of the individual or entity authorising the communication:
A PO Box address is not sufficient for the street address of the person or entity.
A. The language requirements for referendum communications are set out in s 11(4) and s 12(4) of the Determination as follows:
A. The particulars must be printed at the end of the communication (s 11(2)(b) of the Determination).
A. The authorisation particulars must meet all of the formatting requirements in s 11(3) of the Determination, i.e. the particulars must:
To ensure compliance with these formatting requirements, the colour of the authorisation particulars should not bleed or blend in with the background colour. If a person or entity seeking to print a referendum communication is uncertain about appropriate colours, then seek advice from printers on what text colour will contrast best with the background colours.
If there are time sensitivities, it is possible for a sticker to be used to affix the authorisation particulars to the printed communication. However, care must be taken to ensure that the sticker does not fade or fall off and therefore cause the printed communication to be in breach of the authorisations requirements.
Example 1 – A corflute which expressly comments on a proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution is in an A-frame outside 6m from the entrance of a polling place. The frame covers the authorisation particulars at the bottom of the corflute. The particulars are not legible in this scenario.
Example 2 – A billboard which expressly comments on a proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution is displayed on the side of a major road. The background is a picture of the beach which prominently shows the sandy shore and the authorisation particulars are in a thin, white font. The particulars are not reasonably prominent, legible at the distance they are intended to be read or do not contrast with the background in this scenario. In addition, the particulars are placed over a complex pictorial background.
Example 3 – A significant third party places an unframed corflute outside 6m from the entrance of a polling place. The corflute is predominantly canary yellow and the authorisation particulars are white. The text of the particulars do not contrast sufficiently with the background.
A. No. The authorisation particulars for referendum matter published in newspapers and journals aligns with the authorisation particulars for other types of printed communications.
A. No. 2023 amendments to the Referendum Act removed the requirement for the authorisation of printed referendum matter to include the printer details.
A. The authorisation particulars must meet all of the formatting requirements in s 12(3) of the Determination, i.e. the particulars must:
The placement of the authorisation particulars for other communications depends on the type. These are addressed in more detail below.
A. At the beginning of the communication, s 12(2)(a) of the Determination.
A. Communications for personal purposes will not require an authorisation.
A. The disclosure entity must authorise the communication as they have approved the content (the script) of what was communicated by the call centre. The call centre and the provider of the telephone service used by the call centre do not authorise the matter communicated as the call centre and the telephone service provider did not make the decision to communicate the content.
A. No. Speeches that are communicated live at a meeting do not require authorisation (section 110C(4)(g) of the Referendum Act). But any subsequent communication (including republishing online) of that speech may require an authorisation.
A. Whether you had the opportunity to read over the speech and request edits before approving it, you as the speaker have ‘authorised’ the speech, as you have ultimate control over what you say or will not say and by reading the speech, you are approving it in the form you deliver.
A. The authorising particulars must be announced and shown at the end of the communication, s 12(2)(b) of the Determination.
A. Yes. The authorisation details for films that contain referendum matter are the same as for any other video, or communication which consists of moving visual images with speech, music or other sounds (see s 12(2)(b) of the Determination).
A. The authorisation particulars for electronic billboards and other similar devices must be at the end of the communication, s 12(2)(c) of the Determination.
A. At the end of the communication or on a webpage that can be accessed by a URL that is included, either in whole or as a hyperlink.
A. Yes. If the text message contains referendum matter then the text message is required to include authorisation particulars.
A. Depends. Social media content (e.g. communications on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) will require an authorisation if the communication includes referendum matter that is communicated:
A. Section 12(2)(d) of the Determination requires the particulars must be notified through one or more of the following ways:
Example 1: A member of the House of Representatives or Senator posts on Twitter during a referendum period about their campaign and why electors should vote for or against the alteration of the Constitution.
Section 12(d)(iv) of the Determination allows a notifying entity who is an individual, such as a Senator or member of the House of Representatives to place their authorisation particulars in the ‘About Us’ or ‘Contact Us’ section (however described) if that section is directly linked to, or can be accessed by, clicking a link in the communications. In these circumstances, every social media post does not need to be authorised with the exception of paid referendum advertising.
Note 1: this section does not allow entities or groups, such as registered political parties, significant third parties or associated entities to use this feature. If these entities make social media posts containing referendum matter, every single post must include the authorisation particulars.
Note 2: this section applies to text posts only. If an individual is publishing a Facebook live to remain on their page, an Instagram video or a TikTok, then this communication falls within a video communication and the authorisation particulars must be spoken and announced at the end.
Example 2: A significant third party pays a social media platform for a post that contains referendum matter to be sponsored (a paid referendum advertisement). The advertisement is in the form of a text post above an image.
To achieve the objects of the Referendum Act, every paid referendum advertisement must include the authorisation particulars at the end of the individual communication. This includes paid referendum advertisement published by a member of the House of Representatives or Senator or any other individual. The author of the content must have regard to the fact that the post can be reposted/shared, and that the post may be viewed in different formats, such as on a computer or on a mobile.
A. No. Social media content will not require an authorisation if it is communicated for personal purposes, for instance to personal friends only.
A. Depends. If the original post contains referendum matter that required authorisation, it must be authorised by the original communicator. If you repost this original post:
A. The authorisation requirements for emails containing referendum matter are the same as those for other ‘non-printed’ types of communication – i.e. text messages, social media platforms etc (as discussed above).
Under the definition of ‘relevant town or city’ in section 110A of the of the Referendum Act, the name of a town or city must be included in the authorisation; a post office box is not sufficient. Please refer above for the definition of ‘relevant town or city’.
A. Yes. As long as the notifying particulars are contained in the email, it is sufficient to contain the authorisation in the signature block.
A. Authorisation particulars must be included in an email in one or more of the following ways:
A. The authorisation for a website that contains referendum matter should appear in the footer of the website (s 12(2)(d)(iii) of the Determination).
A. Yes. The authorisation particulars are similar to those that apply to social media or webpages. Section 12(2)(d) of the Determination requires the authorisation particulars must be either:
A. Yes. The authorisation details for mobile phone and computer applications are to be:
A. For a mobile phone application or a computer application, s 12(2)(d) of the Determination requires the particulars must be notified:
A. The authorisation requirements for broadcasting apply to political matter, electoral matter and referendum matter (see Schedule 2 Broadcasting Services Act 1992). This includes election and referendum advertising. Accordingly, the authorisation requirements for broadcasting apply at all times and not just during election and referendum periods.
A. Under Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, there is an election and referendum advertising blackout on all electronic media from the end of the Wednesday before polling day to the end of polling on the Saturday. This three-day blackout effectively provides a ‘cooling off’ period in the lead up to polling day, during which political parties, groups and others are no longer able to purchase time on television and radio to broadcast electoral or referendum advertising.
The electronic media blackout provisions and other provisions relating to the broadcasting of ‘political matter’ are administered by the ACMA.
A. Electoral or referendum communications do not require an authorisation where the communication:
For further information about the AEC’s compliance and enforcement activites, please visit our compliance page.
To provide a tip-off or complaint to the AEC, please visit our complaints/tip-off page.
29 July 2021 |
To address the new Commonwealth Electoral (Authorisation of Voter Communication) Determination 2021 |
21 September 2021 |
To address amendments to Part XXA of the Electoral Act by the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Counting, Scrutiny and Operational Efficiencies) Act 2021 to remove the requirement for the authorisation particulars for printed communications to include printer requirements. |
23 February 2022 |
To address amendments to penalty for s 329 by the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Foreign Influences and Offences) Act 2022. |
21 March 2022 |
To address amendments to s 321D by the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Authorisations) Act 2022 to require registered political parties and disclosure entities to use their current registered name and allow registered political parties to use a condensed name in authorisations. |
27 April 2023 |
To address amendments to the authorisation requirements in the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 by the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Amendment Act 2022. Those amendments aligned the requirements in the Referendum Act with recent changes to the Electoral Act, including by amending the definition of ‘referendum matter’, strengthening the information gathering powers and prohibiting foreign campaigners from authorising referendum matter. |
The AEC acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters, culture and community. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.