News
1 July, 2026
Electoral committee warns of 'assault on democracy'
A parliamentary committee has warned the 2025 federal election saw an "assault on democracy", releasing an interim report containing 14 recommendations aimed at strengthening the integrity, transparency and safety of Australia's electoral system.
A parliamentary committee has warned the 2025 federal election saw an "assault on democracy", releasing an interim report containing 14 recommendations aimed at strengthening the integrity, transparency and safety of Australia's electoral system.
Committee Chair Jerome Laxale said, "The interim report provides a response to the assault on democracy that many witnessed at the 2025 election."
He said, "In target seats, the 2025 federal election saw the established norms for conduct at polling places shattered. Across the country certain polling places were flooded with participants who shook the foundations of our established free, fair and safe electoral processes."
Among the committee's 14 recommendations are a mandatory code of conduct for candidates, campaign workers, volunteers and third-party campaigners at polling booths, compulsory registration of campaigners, stronger powers for the AEC to warn or remove people engaging in aggressive or repeated misconduct, the creation of regulated campaign zones beyond the current six-metre exclusion area, and tougher authorisation laws so voters can clearly identify who is funding and responsible for electoral advertising.
The report also recommends reviewing electoral laws to better protect elections from domestic interference, ensuring the AEC is adequately resourced to enforce any new measures, improving accessibility at polling places and reviewing pre-poll voting arrangements as more Australians vote before election day.
The committee said further work is still required on the use of generative artificial intelligence in electoral material, fixed and extended parliamentary terms and the size of Parliament, with a final report due in November 2026.
The interim report can be accessed here:
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Electoral_Matters/2025federalelection
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