Lying in political advertising is perfectly lawful in Australia. This is different to other aspects of advertising that are prohibited from making misleading or deceptive claims.

Pharmaceutical companies cannot claim to have the cure for cancer, food companies cannot claim that sugary foods are good for kids, lawyers cannot guarantee that they will win every personal injury case.

Australians should be entitled to expect the same standard of honesty in politics as they receive in trade and commerce – if not a higher standard. But across most of Australia it is perfectly legal to lie in a political ad.

While election campaigning by its very nature will always be strong and robust, it should not be perfectly legal to lie in a political advertisement.

87% of Australians support truth in political advertising laws.

87% of Coalition voters support truth in political advertising laws.
88% of Labor voters support truth in political advertising laws.
82% of Greens voters support truth in political advertising laws.
87% of One Nation voters support truth in political advertising laws.