Media release – Shooters, Farmers & Fishers Party, 3 December 2024
Call for Reform: Stop the Abuse of Parliamentary Privileges for Pre-Election Campaigning
The use of taxpayer-funded federal parliamentary allowances by political parties to fund pre-election advertising, including billboards and temporary signage, is an affront to democracy and a blight on our public spaces. Despite no writs being issued for an election, our state is being littered with campaign-style signage, contributing to visual pollution and undermining the integrity of the electoral process.
This misuse of taxpayer funds is nothing short of a loophole exploitation, allowing sitting parliamentary parties to enjoy an unfair advantage over independents and minor parties who lack access to such resources. It’s not just unfair—it’s undemocratic. Election signage, intended to inform voters during official campaigns, has now become a year-round tool of political propaganda.
Election reform is urgently needed to curb this abuse. Our system must enforce stricter guidelines on the use of parliamentary allowances, ensuring that they serve constituents—not political agendas. Regulations governing the timing and placement of election-style advertising must also be revisited to protect the public from unnecessary clutter and to preserve the integrity of the democratic process.
Australians deserve better from their elected representatives. This behaviour erodes public trust, perpetuates inequality among political participants, and prioritises partisan interests over the public good. It’s time to clean up our streets and our politics. We call on all parties to commit to genuine election reform and end this misuse of public funds.
