No hiding source of campaign material

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 which start from March 15 will give voters much greater awareness of who is seeking to influence their vote.

The laws, which passed federal parliament last year, will also crack down on mobile phone-based campaigns such as Labor's so-called Mediscare.

All electoral communication will need to be clearly authorised irrespective of the medium used.

At present modern campaign techniques like robocalls and bulk SMS messages do not require an authorisation informing voters who is trying to influence their vote.

There are also inconsistencies between broadcast media and internet advertising, as well as how-to-vote cards and campaign T-shirts.

Under the new laws authorisation will be required for: all paid advertising; paid and unpaid communications made by or on behalf of entities such as political parties, candidates and third-party campaign groups; and printed material including leaflets, flyers, posters and how-to-vote cards.

All authorisations will also need to include the name of the political party or organisation behind the communication.

The Australian Electoral Commission will get expanded injunction powers, enforceable undertakings, and more substantial fines, as well as information-gathering powers to support enforcement.

Falsely representing a commonwealth body such as Medicare could attract a jail sentence of up to five years.

The AEC is expected to put on its website in coming weeks examples of authorisation covering a range of communication methods.

Meanwhile, debate is expected to resume in parliament in March on another suite of electoral law changes.

They include restrictions on foreign donations, a new register for third party campaigners, clarifying the definition of "associated entities" and limiting public election funding to demonstrated electoral spending.

In the 2015-16 financial year, which included the last election, third party campaign groups spent almost $40 million on election advertising, polling, and campaigning.

As well the parliamentary electoral matters committee is inquiring into how to minimise the risk of candidates being found ineligible under section 44 of the constitution, 'truth in advertising' provisions and the use of technology in voting, scrutiny and counting.

The government has said it will consider further reforms once these inquiries are completed.