Australia's major political parties operate powerful databases using information contained on the electoral roll about every Australian voter. To date, there has been a lack of oversight or regulation of the development of political databases.

Peter van Onselen provides an overview of the way the databases function and the purposes for which the major political parties use them. He shows they impinge negatively on the value of political equality through entrenching incumbency, both of the government of the day and the major parties collectively over competing minor parties.