Laws tackle poll tactics

POLITICAL parties and candidates fighting by-elections in coming months will face tough penalties if they breach new laws dealing with robocalls, text messages and other communication.

There’s potential for a number of federal by-elections in the first half of the year if more MPs are caught up in the citizenship debacle.

New laws starting March 15 will give voters much greater awareness of who is seeking to influence their vote. The laws will also crack down on mobile phone-based campaigns.