With the federal election less than six weeks away, 16 community, human rights and religious groups have joined forces to call on all candidates to refrain from misleading voters and commit to reforms to stop the spread of disinformation, which plagued the 2019 federal election and only became worse during the bushfires and the pandemic.

The organisations are today releasing their ‘policy vision’, outlining three key pledges they are urging politicians to make: to campaign honestly, to commit to meaningful reforms to stop disinformation, and to develop laws to limit the spread of disinformation.

The group warns against the rise of disinformation which frequently travels between newspapers, talkback radio, politicians’ tweets and messaging apps. Digital platforms and media companies profit from it, and alarmingly we’re seeing some politicians build platforms on it.

Each year, people are exposed to more sensational, extreme and conspiratorial content, which has polarised and divided communities on vital issues like the pandemic response.

The organisations are calling for strong and systemic regulation to challenge the business models that underpin disinformation, while ensuring the national conversation is focused on a passionate exchange of ideas and information about the best way to govern Australia.

Human Rights Law Centre Senior Lawyer Alice Drury said:

“Disinformation is incredibly dangerous. As we’ve seen with the US capitol riots, disinformation can poison democracy and cause massive civil unrest. We’ve also seen throughout the pandemic that disinformation on issues like vaccines can ultimately be deadly.

“Every single candidate running in the election has a role to play to protect our country from a dystopian future. Candidates must step up, commit to campaigning honestly and pursuing reforms to stop disinformation if elected.”

The Australia Institute Senior Researcher for the Democracy and Accountability Program Bill Browne said: 

“Australians deserve the facts when they go on social media or view political ads, but at the moment there is no guarantee that that is what they are getting. We need nationally consistent, constitutional laws that limit misinformation while upholding freedom of speech.”

Organisations supporting the public statement:

Australian Council of Social Service

Australian Democracy Network

The Australia Institute

Australian Muslim Advocacy Network

Australians for a Murdoch Royal Commission 

Australia 21

Climate Council

Community Council for Australia

Democracy in Colour

Foundation for Young Australians

GetUp

Human Rights Law Centre

Nature Conservation Council

Reset

Transparency International Australia

Uniting Church (Synod of Victoria and Tasmania)

Media contact:

Evan Schuurman, Human Rights Law Centre, 0406 117 937, evan.schuurman@hrlc.org.au