Government won't back political ad reform

The federal government has confirmed it will not support enabling the elections watchdog to make sure political campaign messages are true.

During Question Time on Monday, Independent MP Zali Steggall asked if the government would support an amendment to existing electoral law to prohibit misleading and deceptive political advertising before next year's election.

The proposed amendment would create a complaints process through the Australian Electoral Commission where the commissioner could order a retraction of the statement or an apology.

Special Minister of State Ben Morton said it was inappropriate to support a piece of legislation that would make an independent agency politically involved.

Instead he said the AEC would roll out its "stop and consider" awareness campaign as did in the previous by-elections in Eden-Monaro and in Groom.

Mr Morton said the government passed amendments following the 2016 election to enable voters to clearly identify the source of political information.