Victoria's election watchdog is investigating a complaint that right-wing lobby group Advance has not declared any donations in the state while funding a campaign against the Greens in the Prahran byelection. Advance has funded T-shirts, how-to-vote cards and social media advertisements urging voters to put the Greens last on ballot forms. The Greens argue that Advance's national campaign, which includes ads targeting federal electorates overlapping the Prahran byelection, should be considered state-based campaigning and therefore donations should be declared. Advance maintains its ads were part of a federal campaign and have no connection to the byelection.
Victoria’s election watchdog is investigating a complaint that right-wing lobby group Advance has not declared any donations in the state while bankrolling a campaign against the Greens in the hotly contested Prahran byelection.has funded T-shirts, how-to-vote cards and social media advertisements urging voters to put the Greens last on ballot forms in Saturday’s three-way contest. But the campaigners are yet to declare any donations with the Victorian Electoral Commission .
The Greens argue those generic anti-Greens ads amounted to state-based campaigning once the writs for the byelection were issued on December 20, or else the intention of state donation rules could be easily undermined.
A VEC spokeswoman declined to comment on any complaint or investigation, but said there was nothing to prevent federal campaigning during a state election. “It’s a perfect fit with our ‘her truth’ and ‘Greens truth’ messaging, ensuring the Greens don’t get a free pass to further expand their power at the federal election.”
ELECTION CAMPAIGN DONATIONS LOBBYING VICTORIA PRARHAN BYELECTION ADVANCE GREENS VICTORIAN ELECTORAL COMMISSION
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