May 4, 2023
Australia’s first law officer has been accused of being “dangerously complacent” about the risk of foreign interference in the Voice referendum.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, his department, or agencies in his portfolio have not consulted with technology or social media platforms about the risks ahead of the key vote later this year.
The revelations, contained in a response to Senate questions, come as Australia’s top security and intelligence agencies front a public hearing about the issue in Melbourne on Thursday.
Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson asked if the Attorney-General had sought advice from his department or agencies on the risk of foreign interference in the proposed referendum.
In response, Mr Dreyfus said he was “aware” of the work of the Electoral Integrity Assurance Taskforce, adding relevant agencies would provide advice “as appropriate, should a risk be identified”.
A spokesman for the Attorney-General said there were long standing arrangements in place to protect Australian electoral events from foreign interference.
It comes as a civics information program to inform Australians about the Voice to Parliament referendum will be launched by two major democratic organisations under a $1.5 million federal government commitment to run a “neutral” awareness campaign.
The Museum of Australian Democracy (MoAD) has been provided $475,000, while the Constitution Education Fund Australia (CEFA) has been given $1 million.
