Election billboards claiming Chinese Communist Party supports Labor spotted around Australia

Giant red billboards featuring Xi Jinping’s face have been spotted around Australia, with one appearing at one Premier’s household.

A billboard claiming the Chinese Communist Party is supporting Labor in the upcoming Federal election has been spotted roaming across at least three states.

The giant red mobile sign depicts Chinese leader Xi Jinping voting Labor alongside a giant yellow hammer and sickle.

“CCP says vote Labor,” the sign reads.

The image was first posted online by ABC podcast host Norman Swan and was quickly being shared, with several people asking the Electoral Commission if it was within the confines of fair campaign advertising.

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan fumed at the billboards, one of which he reportedly found parked outside his home.

“They’re idiots. And they’re morons,” McGowan said via The Guardian on Wednesday. “And whoever is behind that should be ashamed of themselves. They go and park it outside my house and then film.”

It is outrageous, but not the Libs. It is Advance Australia, which I think is the Conservatives' attempt to have an answer to Getup? https://t.co/R85mPnSLwl

— Peter FitzSimons (@Peter_Fitz) April 6, 2022

Some wrongly assumed the billboard was commissioned by the Liberal Party. It was later revealed to be from the Advance Australia party.

“It oozes fear-mongering and racism. Par for the LNP course,” Jenny Frecklington-Jones tweeted. “On the upside for me, the overwhelming colour of Labor red and ‘VOTE LABOR’ catch my eye more than the rest. Perhaps there will be unintended consequences.”

Some people said they had also seen the billboard in Newcastle.

The Electoral Commission confirmed the controversial advertisement was authorised by the Advance Australia party.

Seen in Melbourne. Gonna be a fun campaign. pic.twitter.com/FnE1RDCKNn

— Norman Swan (@normanswan) April 5, 2022

“Electoral laws don't provide us with power to regulate truth but ensure its authorised so ppl know who is communicating. The signage is authorised by Advance Australia. We actioned the part we could (image of vote used to have a tick, now replaced by numbers),” the Electoral Commission tweeted.

A senior democracy and accountability researcher at the Australia Institute said the billboard exposed a loophole in the nation’s laws about political advertising.

“The reality is in Australia, it’s perfectly legal to lie in a political ad, and it shouldn’t be,” Bill Browne said.

“We know that regulation along the lines of South Australia’s laws against misleading advertising would help address these problems generally.

“In South Australia, members of the public who think a political ad is misleading can make a complaint to the electoral commissioner who can can order the misleading ad to be withdrawn as well as give out financial penalties.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has given clues on when the election will be held, revealing Aussies can expect to head to the polling booths around mid-May.

May 14th is firming as the likely date for the 2022 election.

“The election will be called soon enough and it will be a very important election,” the Prime Minister said on Wednesday.

“Because, you know, over the last couple of years Australia has widely been focused on what has been a very tough period for this country. They have been putting their kids through homeschooling as they’ve gone through lockdowns, they’ve been trying to keep their businesses open, they’ve been trying to keep their livelihoods in place.

“Now there is the opportunity before they make a very important decision at the next election.”

Mr Morrison starts the election race as the underdog, behind in the polls and with Labor retaining a two-party preferred lead of 55-45.

Labor starts the campaign on 69 seats and needs to win a net seven seats to elect a Speaker and form a government.

The Coalition holds 76 seats and it needs to hold its own seats and gain some seats to balance out any Labor wins if it is to retain government.