Right-wing party founder cautioned
The founder of a right-wing minor party has been cautioned by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) for displaying non-compliant campaign materials.
Morgan Jonas, an alt-right blogger and founder of the Freedom Party of Victoria, was warned by the AEC on Tuesday for only partially authorising corflute political signs.
The materials authorised by 'M. Jonas Melbourne Victoria 3000' were deemed non-compliant under the Commonwealth Electoral Act because they did not include Mr Jonas's full name and full street address. One of Morgan Jonas's non-compliant signs. Supplied Credit: Supplied
The signs were displayed in at least four states, including the divisions of Chisholm, Hawke, Bendigo and Menzies in Victoria, the divisions of Calare and Bennelong in NSW, the division of Blair in Queensland and the division of Boothby in South Australia.
One of the non-compliant signs displayed in the Blair electorate attacked Labor MP Shayne Neumann, calling for 'Neumann out & a new man in!'. Mr Jonas led anti-vaccination and anti-lockdown protests during the Covid-19 pandemic. NewsWire / Wayne Taylor Credit: News Corp Australia
The AEC has obtained an undertaking from Mr Jonas that he will 'cease distributing material that is not correctly authorised and will ensure that stickers are placed on all existing corflutes and signs'.
Updated signage now bears authorisation from 'Morgan C. Jonas 8/220 Collins Street Melbourne Victoria 3000'. Updated signage now bears authorisation from 'Morgan C. Jonas 8/220 Collins Street Melbourne Victoria 3000'. Supplied Credit: Supplied
Mr Jonas recently shared a post on Facebook that announced the Freedom Party of Victoria would be 'skipping the federal election'.
'You will see me interacting with some of Victoria's minor right candidates, all of whom are solid picks,' he wrote.
According to the AEC, authorisations are important because they allow voters to easily find out the source of the electoral matter, persons participating in public debate relating to elections and reforms can be held accountable, and communications of electoral matter can be traced.
Mr Jonas has been contacted for comment.
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