The Australian Electoral Commission has launched Federal Court proceedings against the individual we allege is responsible for the distribution of unauthorised electoral pamphlets in the electorate of Wentworth during the 2025 federal election.
The AEC alleges that this person breached the Commonwealth Electoral Act by failing to include his name and address on approximately 47,000 pamphlets distributed in the electorate of Wentworth. The printing and distribution of the pamphlets cost approximately $17,500.
These pamphlets contained material opposing the Member for Wentworth and lacked any form of authorisation message or other identifying information.
Electoral Commissioner Jeff Pope said the commencement of court action demonstrates the AEC's commitment to upholding the integrity of Australia's elections.
"Australia's democracy is rightly regarded as world leading, and central to that integrity is the ability for any voter to know the source of electoral advertising through authorisation messages," Mr Pope said.
"The AEC takes cases involving the complete absence of authorisation information and its widespread dissemination particularly seriously."
Mr Pope commended the work of AEC staff who worked to investigate the pamphlets when they were raised with the AEC, including for quickly seeking a written undertaking from the responsible individual that they would not distribute any further unauthorised electoral material during the 2025 federal election.
While this matter is before the court for consideration, the AEC is not able to provide any further updates or additional commentary.
Background
- Failure to authorise electoral communication can carry a penalty of up to $39,600 per contravention, at the discretion of the court.
- The AEC initially published a statement about the circulation of unauthorised pamphlets on Monday 21 April 2025, the day before the start of early voting for the 2025 federal election.
- In a subsequent statement on Wednesday 23 April 2025, the AEC announced that we had identified the individual responsible for the pamphlets and received an undertaking that they would distribute no further copies of the pamphlets, or other unauthorised electoral material, during the 2025 federal election.
