Senator Andrew Murray Democrats Senator for Western Australia Australian Democrats spokesperson for Accountability Australian Democrats spokesperson for Electoral Matters & Public Administration
FACTS - the Federation of Australian Commercial Television Stations - has announced that in light of a recent Senate Committee report it will no longer seek substantiation for statements made in political advertisements and will not consider complaints regarding the accuracy of such statements.
The organisation representing commercial radio stations has followed suit.
Over two years ago, Democrats' Spokesperson on Accountability and Electoral Matters, Senator Andrew Murray, proposed amendments to the Electoral Act to prohibit the printing, publication or distribution of any electoral advertisement purporting to be a statement of fact that is inaccurate or misleading to a material extent.
This followed a twenty-year campaign by the Australian Democrats and previous amendments to this effect from Senator Murray that had been rejected by the Coalition and Labor.
"FACTS are right to recognise the reality: that is that there is no law to stop political parties lying, no penalties and no means of enforcement," Senator Murray said.
"Labor and the Coalition have consistently refused to follow the precedents of the Trade Practices Act and South Australian electoral law and legislate for honesty in political advertising.
"The message they are sending is one of self-regulation and no punishment for politicians, and regulation and punishment for everyone else.
"Too much is at stake to let political parties off the hook on misleading and deceptive conduct in political advertisements.
Legislation and serious penalties are the right answer," Senator Murray concluded.
For further comment please call Senator Andrew Murray:
08 9481 1455 or 041 995 8038
Notes for Journalists
South Australia (S113 of its Electoral Act) has had legislation controlling political advertising since 1985. It is an offence to authorise, cause or permit the publication of an electoral advertisement which contains a statement purporting to be a statement of fact, but which is inaccurate or misleading to a material extent.
The report FACTS refers to is the August 2002 Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee's Report into four Private Senators/Members Bills
