Electoral commission sought court injunction against right-wing lobby group

A VEC spokeswoman said the electoral commission was first alerted last Saturday to Advance signs that breached electoral law for being within 100 metres of the two early-voting booths in Prahran.

Only candidates and registered political parties – not third-party campaigners such as Advance – can place signs near voting booths.

“We asked the campaigners to remove the signs from the 100-metre zone. They complied on Saturday, although the signs were placed in breach of the 100-metre zone again on Monday morning,” the spokeswoman said.

“Again, we asked them to remove the signs, and they complied.”

The VEC then brought the matter to court in an attempt to prevent any more breaches.

“Where education doesn’t address non-compliance with the law, or when we suspect an offence may have been committed, or where there is evidence of further offending, we may investigate and take action in proportion with the level of harm.”

Court action was discontinued when Advance gave an undertaking “not to place the signs in breach of the requirements, and to instruct their campaigners accordingly”, the VEC spokeswoman said, thanking Advance for the commitment.

Advance claimed the VEC withdrew the action when it was clear it would be “spectacularly unsuccessful” and that the electoral commission agreed to pay costs.

“We are taking further advice on this matter,” a spokesman for the lobby group said.

The Australian Electoral Commission this week released data on how much was raised and spent by federal campaigners in 2023-24. It revealed that Liberal Party-associated entity the Cormack Foundation had donated $500,000 to Advance.

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