Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Communications) Bill 2025

Summary

Amends the: Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 to prohibit the authorisation of certain electoral and referendum matter that is inaccurate and misleading to a material extent, including material that has been modified using digital technology, such as ‘deepfakes’; and require electoral and referendum matter that has been created or modified using digital technology (including AI) to carry a statement to that effect; Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 to establish an Electoral Communications Panel; and Broadcasting Services Act 1992 and Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991 to remove the ‘media blackout’ period that prohibits electoral or referendum advertising in the last 3 days of voting in an election or referendum.