Democracy ‘under assault’ from significant third parties at 2025 federal election, parliamentary inquiry finds

New laws are needed to police behaviour at polling booths after Australia’s democracy came “under assault” at last year’s federal election – including from third parties such as Plymouth Brethren Christian Church members and rightwing lobby group Advance – the chair of a parliamentary inquiry has said. The proposed new code of conduct for campaigners was among several recommendations in the interim report from the Labor-led committee reviewing the 2025 ballot, which was tabled on Tuesday afternoon. The Coalition has dismissed the findings, accusing Labor of turning the election inquiry into a “hyper-partisan witch-hunt” against members of the church. “The way that they have been treated by Labor for exercising their right to participate in our political process is a stain on our democracy,” the Liberal senator Jess Collins said. The joint standing committee on electoral matters received dozens of reports about the conduct of members of Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, who turned out en masse in support of Liberal candidates in marginal seats across the country. The church has acknowledged some of its members were involved in the campaign but denied it was organised by the church.