Why is it legal to tell lies during the Voice referendum campaign?

Sat, 5 Aug 2023 03:48:02 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/why-is-it-legal-to-tell-lies-during-the-voice-referendum-campaign-209211>

"A referendum to recognise First Nations Australians in Australia’s
Constitution by establishing a Voice to Parliament will be held later this
year. The Voice would be an advisory body allowing Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people to make representations to parliament and government on matters
that affect them.

Campaigning for the “yes” and “no” sides is well under way. However,
misinformation and disinformation are a feature of some of the public
discussion. Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney this week even accused
the “no” campaign of engaging in “post-truth politics”.

The Australian Electoral Commission has an online referendum process
disinformation register. This is focused on disinformation about the referendum
process rather than fact-checking claims made about the Voice.

Several media outlets including RMIT ABC Fact Check, AAP Fact Check and AFP
Fact Check are publishing articles fact-checking claims about the Voice.

But why is it legal for politicians and other campaigners to lie to you?"

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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