Satirical ad lampooning major parties pulled after complaint over Premier’s image

A popular satirical video lampooning the policies of the major parties contesting the state election has had to blur out an image featuring the Premier. Find out why.

Screen grab from Juice Media Video

A popular satirical video lampooning the policies of the major parties contesting the state election has been amended after a complaint it featured an image of the Premier without his consent.

The video “Honest Government Ad — Visit Tasmania”, which has been viewed 350,000 times on YouTube, attracted a complaint because it allegedly breached the provisions of the Tasmanian Electoral Act, the Juice Media said.

“We got a take-down notice from the Tas Electoral Commission after ‘somebody’ complained that our latest Honest Govt Ad breached the Electoral Act by showing a photo of the Premier, in the lead-up to the election. You can go to jail for that in Tassie. Cool and normal,” Juice Media said in a post on social media site X.

The post was accompanied by an email from the Tasmanian Electoral Commission, citing a complaint about the inclusion of an image of “Jeremy Rockliffe”.

Screen grab from Juice Media Video

“I am therefore writing to alert you to section 196 of the Tasmanian Electoral Act 1985, under which it is an offence to publish on the internet an advertisement that contains a photograph of the likeness of a candidate at an election without their written consent,” it said.

“The Electoral Commissioner is of the view that this video is likely an advertisement and therefore requests either Mr Rockliffe’s (sic) photo is removed from it or that the video is taken [down] as soon as possible, to ensure compliance with the legislation.

The email included that noted that the Act provided for fines of up to $5,850, a term of imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both.

Juice Media posted that the video had been amended.

“Twitter video has been removed while we prepare a suitable response. But the YouTube version is still up for now, with the photo of the Glorious Supreme Leader blurred out.”

Attorney-General Guy Barnettsaid the government had tried to amend the provisions of the Act.

“As part of our package of reforms to the Electoral Act last year, the Rockliff Liberal Government tried to remove the outdated clause that prohibits the names and images of candidates being used in election advertising without their permission,” he said.

‘Unfortunately, this move was blocked by the Legislative Council.

“We continue to be of the view that Section 196 is an anachronism, and if re-elected we will again seek to have it removed.”