Mistruths and disinformation will be targeted by the Australian Electoral Commission as Aussies get set to have their say on the Voice to parliament.
The Australian Electoral Commission will provide Aussies with insight into any mistruths spread about the processes involved in the upcoming proposed Voice to parliament referendum.
A Referendum Disinformation Register has been launched in response to the growing public commentary about the first federal referendum in nearly a quarter of a century.
The proposed referendum will give voters a say on whether the constitution should be changed to embed the Voice – which would be allowed to make representations to the parliament as well as the executive government of the day.
Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers said the AEC was the agency best suited to debunk any misinformation about what is involved in the referendum process, but not about the Yes or No campaigns.
“When it comes to referendum processes, we are the agency that will deliver them, we’re the experts and we’ll continue to be active in defending Australia’s democracy,” Mr Rogers said.
“Australia has not had a federal referendum in nearly a quarter of a century, with around 6.4 million people on the current electoral roll who weren’t of voting age at that time.
“It’s vital that we’re active in ensuring people know how the process works.”
With the referendum expected to happen within the later part of 2023, the AEC has noted there’s already been disinformation published.
Mr Rogers said the AEC will not tolerate any “spread of mistruths” about the referendum processes.
“While we’ll be active in communicating about referendum processes, it’s up to voters to stop and consider information they see, hear or read from ‘yes’ and ‘no’ campaigns,” he said.
“We can’t and won’t play a role with campaign information beyond ensuring it is authorised, so people know the source.
“The Australian vote belongs to all Australians and there is freedom of political communication. However, if you spread incorrect information about the process we run – deliberately or otherwise – we will correct you.”
The disinformation register will focus solely on harmful disinformation relating to the process of conducting referendums.
The AEC will also run an advertising campaign encouraging voters to carefully ‘stop and consider’ information they receive regarding the proposed Constitutional amendment.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney said she welcomed the AEC’s campaign.
“There has been already, so early in the day, much misinformation and I think mischievous misinformation put out about the Voice, both through press conferences, comments in the public arena and through social media,” she said.
“It is very important for this country, for all of us, for all of you (journalists) to make sure that there is absolute clarity on what a referendum is, and what this referendum is about.
“I’m very pleased to ear the AEC is taking the action to make sure that the information that is being put out is actually factual. I welcome that very much.”