70Broadcasting election programmes

1. Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3), a broadcaster may not, at any time, broadcast an election programme.

2. A broadcaster may, for the purpose of a general election, broadcast an election programme if—

3. the programme is promoted by a party or group of related parties; and
4. the programme is broadcast during the election period; and
5. the broadcasting costs are paid from money allocated to the party or group of related parties under section 79.

6. A broadcaster may, for the purposes of a general election or by-election, broadcast an election programme if that programme—

7. is promoted by—
   1. a constituency candidate; or
   2. a party with the authority of a constituency candidate; and
8. relates solely to the constituency candidate at the election; and
9. encourages or persuades, or appears to encourage or persuade, voters to vote for that candidate; and
10. is broadcast during the election period for the election; and
11. is broadcast for a fee that may, but need not, be paid from money allocated to a party or group of related parties under section 79.

12. Nothing in this section restricts—

13. the broadcasting, in relation to an election, of news or comments or current affairs programmes; or
14. the broadcasting of any non-partisan advertisement, as a community service, by a broadcaster.