Eight staff of Australian Electoral Commission contractor fabricated voice referendum location data

External investigators found that eight McNair staff altered location data on survey results on the voice to parliament, when commissioned by the AEC. Photograph: Roni Bintang/Getty Images

Eight staff fabricated location data on Indigenous communities while working for a company contracted by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) during last year’s failed voice referendum process, an investigation has found.

The AEC said it was now “considering its legal position” over the scandal and remained “incredibly disappointed” in the alleged behaviour of McNair yellowSquares, a market research firm engaged as part of the commission’s efforts to improve participation in the vote.