{"id":249649,"date":"2019-12-04T15:57:07","date_gmt":"2019-12-04T05:57:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=249649"},"modified":"2020-09-19T12:21:19","modified_gmt":"2020-09-19T02:21:19","slug":"watchdog-to-fact-check-poll-claims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2019\/12\/04\/watchdog-to-fact-check-poll-claims\/","title":{"rendered":"Watchdog To Fact Check Poll Claims"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Retired judge John Robertson (Photo: ICEO)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

December 4, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Local Government Association of Queensland is funding an independent fact-checking watchdog in a bid to\u00a0expose fake news in the lead-up to the March Council elections.<\/p>\n

The Independent Council Election Observer (ICEO) will operate at arm\u2019s length from the LGAQ via a service company owned by\u00a0the senior partners of a Brisbane law firm.<\/p>\n

The ICEO will be led by\u00a0retired District Court and Planning and Environment Court Judge John Robertson.<\/p>\n

Candidates for councillor and mayor can lodge complaints with the ICEO but the organisation will also start its own inquiries.<\/p>\n

It will fact-check claims and publish its findings on its website<\/a> and social media platforms.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It hopes to publish all findings within days of complaints being lodged.<\/p>\n

It will review claims of false or deceptive campaign material, including claims made in public speeches and posted on social media sites.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur aim is to promote truth, accuracy and a level playing field in the council elections, to give voters more confidence and certainty around the claims that are made,\u201d Mr Robertson said.<\/p>\n

Mr Robertson urged candidates to use the ICEO to keep each other in check.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cMore than 1500 candidates across 77 councils are expected to stand in the March elections, so we\u2019re expecting to be extremely busy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we\u2019re hoping many of those requests come from candidates in regional and rural areas.<\/p>\n

\u201cVoters will be able to access true, accurate information through the ICEO\u2019s published reviews, enhancing the democratic process of the election.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Robertson said the ICEO would work within the framework for existing agencies including the Electoral Commission, the Office of the Independent Assessor and the Crime and Corruption Commission.<\/p>\n

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