Description
On the eve of Australia’s largest ever election, the nation is gripped by a discussion about its future, and where it fits in a period of global geopolitical uncertainty.When polls close 3 May 2025, up to 18 million Australians will have visited 8,000-plus polling locations or posted up to 2.5 million votes, courtesy of a democratic system that is the envy of the world.
In doing so, though, voters will have had to navigate the most challenging election communication environment in the nation‘s history.
With access to thousands of sources of news and information, as well as the prevalence of online misinformation and disinformation that has been propelled by artificial intelligence, there is a potential challenge to trust in the electoral process and political participants, which could impact how Australians vote.
A week out from the opening of early voting, Acting Australian Electoral Commissioner, Jeff Pope APM, will join with Group of Eight Australia guests at the Australian National University in Canberra to:
discuss how the role of an election management body has augmented to meet the demands from the current and future environment;
outline the role of the Electoral Integrity Assurance Taskforce, a collection of relevant federal agencies, in providing information and advice on matters that may compromise the real or perceived integrity of federal elections;
share an insight into the work of the AEC’s dedicated Defending Democracy Unit; and
unpack the purpose of a multi-million dollar digital and social media campaign which supports voters, who after all are the nation’s best line of defence against the very real threat of disinformation as they work their way through the electoral environment.
The Commissioner will also provide behind-the-scenes insights into the operational challenges of staging the country’s largest peacetime logistical exercise, including recruiting 100,000 temporary workers to become – if only for a short period – one of Australia’s largest organisations.
Hosted by Vice-Chancellor and President of the Australian National University Distinguished Professor Genevieve Bell AO, the forum will also feature a panel of pre-eminent security leaders and academics, including Brigadier (Ret’d) Professor Ian Langford, DSC and Bars, Executive Director, Security and Defence PLuS, UNSW and Member of the Go8 Defence and Security Committee, and Dr Jill Sheppard, Senior Lecturer, School of Politics and International Relations, Australian National University and Chaired by Professor Michael Wesley, Chair, Go8 Global Engagement Group and Deputy Vice Chancellor Global, Culture and Engagement at the University of Melbourne.
| Period | 14 Apr 2025 |
|---|---|
| Event type | Conference |
| Location | Canberra, AustraliaShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | National |