Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

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COMMONWEALTH ELECTORAL ACT 1918 - SECT 321C

Objects of this Part

  (1)   The objects of this Part are to promote free and informed voting at elections by enhancing the following:

  (a)   the transparency of the electoral system, by allowing voters to know who is communicating electoral matter;

  (b)   the accountability of those persons participating in public debate relating to electoral matter, by making those persons responsible for their communications;

  (c)   the traceability of communications of electoral matter, by ensuring that obligations imposed by this Part   in relation to those communications can be enforced;

  (d)   the integrity of the electoral system, by ensuring that only those with a legitimate connection to Australia are able to influence Australian elections.

  (2)   This Part aims to achieve these objects by doing the following:

  (a)   requiring the particulars of the person who authorised the communication of electoral matter to be notified if:

  (i)   the matter is an electoral advertisement, all or part of whose distribution or production is paid for; or

  (ii)   the matter forms part of a specified printed communication; or

  (iii)   the matter is communicated by, or on behalf of, a disclosure entity;

  (b)   ensuring that the particulars are clearly identifiable, irrespective of how the matter is communicated;

  (c)   restricting the communication of electoral matter authorised by foreign campaigners.

  (3)   This Part   is not intended to detract from:

  (a)   the ability of Australians to communicate electoral matters to voters; and

  (b)   voters' ability to communicate with each other on electoral matters.



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