Elections Foreign Interference 2024-07-29
2024-07-29
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from concerns about the integrity of recent elections, with specific issues related to postal voting delays.
What steps her Department is taking to prevent foreign interference in elections. During the recent general election, some constituents were frustrated by delays in the postal voting system. The Electoral Commission is looking into this and lessons must be learned. Our democratic system must protect from domestic and foreign malign interference, including misinformation. Will the Minister update on work of the defending democracy taskforce to review measures for protecting the general election? What efforts are being made to protect our wider democratic system?
The Government prioritises protecting elections against foreign interference. Established processes like the National Security Act 2023 are in place. The defending democracy taskforce met on 25 July, bringing together Ministers and representatives from law enforcement and intelligence community to discuss political intimidation and harassment. Last week's meeting focused on a whole-of-Government response to democratic threats.
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Assessment & feedback
Details of specific measures reviewed by the taskforce or concrete actions taken to protect postal voting system were not provided.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Concerns over postal voting delays during the recent election and broader issues of domestic and foreign malign influence on democracy.
Will the Minister update on work being undertaken by the defending democracy taskforce to review measures for protecting general elections? What efforts are made to protect our wider democratic system?
The defending democracy taskforce met on 25 July, bringing together Ministers and representatives from law enforcement and intelligence community. The meeting focused on political intimidation and harassment, driving a whole-of-Government response to threats against democracy.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific details of reviews or protective measures for postal voting system were not provided.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Concerns about security and intelligence agencies' reluctance to interfere in the democratic process, especially regarding kleptocracy proceeds from countries like Russia.
Welcoming Minister's appointment, agrees that steps must be taken to ensure proceeds of kleptocracy are not used to infect democratic political parties. Does he agree?
The right hon. Gentleman speaks with great wisdom and authority, agreeing that steps must be taken.
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Assessment & feedback
No concrete measures or commitments were provided.
Response accuracy