91% of Australians want stop to political lies: new poll

Polling commissioned by the Australian Greens shows overwhelming support for new laws to prevent misleading election advertising.

The national Galaxy poll of 1009 people taken in July shows 91% of Australians are in favour of legislation that would require political parties to be truthful in election advertising. 

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said that he would move in the next Parliament to amend the Commonwealth Electoral Act to make it an offence to publish or distribute misleading and inaccurate election advertising.

"I will also move to establish a Truth in Political Advertising Unit with the Australian Electoral Commission, including an independent arbiter to improve accountability and promote fairness in political campaigning," said Senator Brown.

"The self regulation by commercial television stations, requiring truth in political advertising, has been abandoned."