AEC clears Gazette News of political ad breach

THE Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has found no evidence digital publisher Gazette News or its publications breached political advertising rules, following a complaint by Liberal Senator Jane Hume.

Gazette News, which operates several regional and inner-city outlets including The West Vic Brolga in the Liberal-held electorate of Wannon, was accused by Coalition MPs of acting as a front for political campaigners in the lead-up to the federal election.

Senator Hume alleged the organisation was using paid advertising to promote Climate 200-backed independents and should be registered as an electoral advertiser.

Her concerns were partly based on the fact Gazette News’s major funders have also donated to Climate 200 or affiliated candidates.

Climate 200 founder Simon Holmes à Court told the National Press Club earlier this month that he had met Gazette News founder Anna Saulwick but said there was “no connection” between the organisation and Climate 200.

In a statement sent to Gazette News and shared with this masthead, the AEC stated it did not consider the publisher’s content to be electoral matter, and therefore not subject to authorisation rules.

“There is no evidence at this stage that this organisation has incurred electoral expenditure that would require it to register as a financial disclosure entity.”

Gazette News founder Anna Saulwick described the complaint as “a nasty, false political stunt”.

“Some politicians are willing to try to intimidate independent media into silence,” she said.

“But we won’t be backing down from asking tough questions or serving our local communities.”