The Victorian Electoral Matters Committee recommendations include:

• Truth in political advertising laws.
• Changes to how the Victorian upper house is elected.
  • The Committee acknowledges that “If group voting tickets were eliminated but the current structure of regions continued, major parties would likely be over-represented in the Upper House and there would likely be fewer minor parties and less diversity”.
• Prohibiting groups other than the Electoral Commission from distributing postal voter applications.
• Improving access to polling places for voters with disabilities.
• Parties to establish codes of conduct for their members in relation to their behaviour on social media.
• Further restricting which party names, abbreviations and logos can be registered, as is the case at the Commonwealth level.

“The Victorian Electoral Matters Committee has delivered a thorough and detailed investigation that has delivered a lot for the Victorian public to digest,” said Bill Browne, Director of the Australia Institute’s Democracy & Accountability Program.

“The Victorian government now has an opportunity to quickly implement recommendations that have bipartisan support, whilst further investigating other, more problematic recommendations.”

Truth in political advertising

“In Victoria, it is perfectly legal to lie in a political ad, and it shouldn’t be,” said Bill Browne.

“With bipartisan support in principle for truth in political advertising laws, it is time to get these laws in place for the next election.

“Our research shows four in five Victorians support the introduction of truth in political advertising laws, so why are Victorians still waiting for this essential reform?”

Upper house reform recommendations

“While the recommendation to remove group voting tickets is a welcome, more should be done to reform the way members are elected to the Victorian upper house,” said Bill Browne.

“A single, state-wide electorate and ‘Robson rotation’ within party lists would make the upper house more proportional and representative of popular support. Anything else risks reducing diversity, resulting in an over-representation for the major parties, as the Committee itself acknowledges.

“Elections for Victoria’s upper house need holistic reform. All proposed changes should be considered together, but unfortunately the committee has prematurely rejected some changes, recommended others, regardless of what else changes, and suggested taking others to a review.”

Political finance rules

“The Committee has recognised that political finance rules give advantages to parties, especially large parties. Victoria should have competitive elections that allow a variety of voices to be heard, and that requires a level playing field,” said Bill Browne.

“Unfortunately, the political finance reforms suggested by the Committee would leave small parties and independents at a disadvantage and need more consideration before implementation.”