The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has confirmed it will not be placing any voting information advertisements in local community newspapers across Melbourne ahead of the upcoming federal election, sparking outrage from local publishers and community leaders.
The decision means crucial details about where and how to vote will be absent from dozens of free local community newspapers that serve Melbourne’s diverse and often disadvantaged outer suburbs.
The AEC claims that information for these areas will be “covered by the metro papers.”
However, this ignores the fundamental role local community newspapers play in reaching culturally and linguistically diverse communities, newly settled residents, and those who may not access or trust mainstream media.
Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre board member Wicki Wickiramasingham says he was concerned that crucial voting information wasn’t reaching new arrivals and senior citizens.
The AEC seemed to have overlooked its usual practice of letterboxing households, placing ads in community newspapers and community radio as well as engaging community centres ahead of the federal election, he said.
Instead the commission relied on voters visiting its website – if those people know about it.
“It appears that the AEC is keeping quiet this time.
“Many first-time voters don’t even know of their voting rights, let alone how to vote – so they are facing a possible fine.
“There’s no chance that they’ll be going to the AEC website.
“The AEC has to ensure that the information gets to each and every voter.”
Many publishers of local community newspapers have expressed frustration at the AEC’s unwillingness to reconsider the move.
Star News Group Managing Director Paul Thomas said it was discriminatory and undermined democratic values.
“The AEC’s decision effectively disenfranchises the very communities who need support the most. Our local community newspapers are trusted, local voices—cutting them out of the electoral process is indefensible,” he said.
Requests for clarification from the AEC were not answered directly.
