We want to strengthen penalties for breaches of electoral laws to ensure honesty. The Electoral Commission should be empowered to investigate offences and impose punitive penalties relating to any offences, including barring parties from participating in elections.

When electoral laws are breached, political parties are fined. This can be factored into their cost models, and we believe it makes a mockery of our legislation. In order to keep elections fair and free from interference from any well-funded malign influences, we believe there needs to be severe deterrence.