The taskforce charged with determining the integrity of the federal election says no interference was detected. Photo: AEC.
Australia’s democracy remains intact and safe, with no interference, foreign or otherwise, detected at the May federal election.
The Electoral Integrity Assurance Taskforce (EIAT) has concluded its assessment into the election and issued a statement to say its agencies did not find anything of concern.
“[The taskforce] did not identify any foreign interference, or any other interference, that compromised the delivery of the 2025 federal election or would undermine the confidence of the Australian people in the results of the election,” it said in a statement.
“As the EIAT set out in its January 2025 Election Security Environment Overview, threats to the integrity of the 2025 federal election might be realised through various vectors, including a cyber or physical security incident, foreign interference and the spread of misinformation or disinformation.
“Leading up to, and during the 2025 federal election, EIAT agencies engaged with issues as they arose in the electoral environment, including the continually evolving digital communications environment; deteriorating physical security conditions; and suggestions of foreign interference in campaign activities.
“The Australian community played an important role in protecting electoral integrity, particularly as voters, candidates and other participants in the electoral process have become increasingly attuned to the electoral security environment.”
The EIAT and its board are constituted by a number of relevant Federal Government agencies, working together to provide information and advice to the Australian Electoral Commission on matters that may compromise the real or perceived integrity of federal electoral events, including referendums.
The EIAT Board has provided formal advice to Acting Australian Electoral Commissioner Jeff Pope following return of the writs for the 2025 federal election.
Mr Pope welcomed the advice, saying protecting the integrity of Australia’s electoral processes is critical to maintaining public trust in Australia’s democracy.
“The work of the taskforce plays a vital role in protecting and preserving Australia’s electoral integrity and I am pleased to be able to share this advice with all Australians,” he said.
“Australia has one of the most trusted electoral systems in the world, with broad-ranging safeguards in place to protect its integrity, including through the EIAT.
“The electoral system belongs to voters and we all have to protect it.
“While I have no doubt there will continue to be challenges in the environment in which future federal elections will occur, I am equally confident that the efforts of the EIAT, candidates and political parties, and the wider Australian community, will be equal to these challenges”.
In its January overview, the EIAT stressed that experiences from democracies around the world show elections are not immune from foreign interference.
It says some foreign powers are interested in impacting the real or perceived legitimacy of results, while others seek to undermine the concept of democracy itself.
Some foreign powers target candidates directly or, through the spread of disinformation, the voting public.
“It is possible that foreign powers may seek to undertake similar actions in Australia,” it states.
“While attempts to interfere in our democratic processes are common, successful interference is not.
“Our democracy remains robust, our parliaments remain sovereign and our elections remain free and fair.”
However, foreign interference is a more prolific threat than ever before and perpetrators are often difficult to identify.
Their links to foreign powers may not be immediately apparent.
“Foreign interference is illegal,” the EIAT states.
“It is an activity carried out by, on behalf of, directed or subsidised by, or undertaken in active collaboration with a foreign power, and either involves a threat to a person, or is clandestine or deceptive and detrimental to Australia’s interests.
“Australia has a mature framework to ensure our institutions and communities are resilient to foreign interference.
“This includes measures to protect our democracy and uphold our laws and values, such as robust criminal offences and the Counter-Foreign Interference Taskforce, which leads Australia’s operational response to espionage and foreign interference.”
Original Article published by Chris Johnson on Region Canberra.
