Independent Wentworth MP Allegra Spender wants some more information on the investigation the AEC carried out into illegal pamphlets which were distributed in her electorate. The AEC reported last night that it had identified one of the people responsible for distributing 47,000 of the unauthorised election materials. Spender wants the person identified and says:

Last night, the AEC announced it had identified one of the persons responsible for distributing 47,000 unauthorised and illegal pamphlets in Wentworth.

I am writing to the AEC today to request more information about its decision.

I am concerned that the AEC has announced that it will not identify the person responsible and will not decide whether to prosecute them until after the election.

This pamphlet made false and defamatory claims against me and deliberately flouted the Australian Electoral laws regarding the authorisation of election material.

The AEC’s statement also says: “Voters are reminded to stop and consider the source of all messages relating to the 2025 federal election.”

The purpose of the law on authorisation is to ensure voters can identify the source of election messages.

It is not clear to me why, in this case, the AEC will not identify the source of this offensive material, which has already been widely distributed in pamphlet form and widely circulated in community chat groups.

How can voters consider the source if the AEC will not identify that source?

I will be asking the AEC to reconsider its decision or explain what compelling reasons it might have in this case to override its responsibilities to inform the public and enforce the law.