36Requirements for statements

36  Requirements for statements

 (1) Statements must be in English.

 (2) Statements must not contain anything other than words and numbers.

 (3) Statements must be submitted to the AEO no later than 24 hours after the *hour of nomination.

 (4) An *ungrouped candidate’s statement must be signed by the candidate.

 (5) A *group’s statement must be signed by:

 (a) if an order was specified in the request relating to the group under subsection 29(2)—the candidate listed first in that order; and

 (b) otherwise—the candidate authorised in writing for the purposes of this Division by all the candidates who joined in the request under subsection 29(1).

 (6) The AEO must refuse to accept a statement if it does not comply with a requirement of this section.

 (7) The AEO must refuse to accept a statement if:

 (a) it contains material that, in the opinion of the officer, is obscene; or

 (b) it contains a reference to another candidate in the election and that other candidate has not consented in writing to the reference being made.

 (8) A written consent referred to in subsection (7) must be submitted together with the statement to which it relates.

 (9) Paragraph (7)(b) does not apply to a reference in a group’s statement to a candidate who is a candidate for the group.