On 21 September 2016, I asked the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters (JSCEM) to inquire into and report on all aspects of the 2016 Federal Election and related matters.
I welcome the interim report which has been tabled by the JSCEM today. The committee’s interim report has focussed on the issue of authorisation of campaign material.
As has been highlighted in the report, the 2016 campaign saw a number of incidences of misleading material. The most notorious example was, of course, the SMS messages that appeared to come from Medicare.
The Government will seriously consider the report’s findings and recommendations and respond in 2017.
Following an election, it is typical for the Special Minister of State to make a referral to JSCEM. The committee received submissions regarding: the use of technology in the electoral process; changes to Senate voting; the role of third-party political groups; political donation reform; the authorisation of all forms of election-related material and the application of disclosure rules.
I wish to thank the chair of the committee, Senator Linda Reynolds CSC and committee members for their work to date.
Further reports about the 2016 Federal Election are expected for 2017.