The Greens have put truth in political advertising laws back on Parliament’s agenda, successfully pushing the government to send the Electoral Amendment Bill to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters.
The Bill seeks to repeal Section 196 of the Electoral Act 2004 – an outdated, likely unconstitutional provision that prohibits the use of a candidate’s name or image, without permission, during a campaign period. The Greens have long advocated for changes to section 196 of the Electoral Act to allow political candidates’ names to be published during election campaigns, because we believe voters deserve to know which candidates are saying what, and how they are likely to vote if elected.
Section 196 affords an unjustifiable and exclusive protection to political candidates that has prevented stakeholders and community organisations from identifying any candidate during a campaign, without their permission. The Section 196 provision does not operate outside election campaigns but it does inhibit open, respectful debate about individual candidates at a time when voters most need to know where prospective MPs stand so they can make informed choices.
This section has been weaponised against community groups who justifiability seek to inform the public of candidates’ views on issues. A community member should be able to share a how to vote card with candidates’ views on issues from salmon farming to renters’ rights without fear they’ll be punished.
It’s all about strengthening democracy, which is what our proposed truth in political advertising amendments also seek to do. The Greens know voters expect lies from politicians during election campaigns, but they deserve the truth. It remains legal to lie in political advertising in this state, and that’s simply bad for democracy.
Advertising in business isn’t allowed to be misleading or deceptive – why shouldn’t this be the case in politics? Tasmanians deserve to know what’s being said about political candidates is honest, so they can make an informed decision on how to vote.
With disinformation and misinformation on the rise, it’s more important than ever for truth in political advertising laws. It’s why we pushed the government to refer this bill to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters and will present our truth in political advertising amendments to JSCEM as part of the process.
We look forward to hearing from the Joint Standing Committee on how we can improve Tasmania’s electoral laws. Every Tasmanian deserves to know members of the public can refer to candidates without their permission, and to know what’s being said by those candidates is the truth.
