MPs newsletters and emails caught by EFA

ACT MP Heather Roy has been advised by the Chief Electoral Office that her weekly newsletter, which a recipient has to sign up to recieve, is an election edvertisment, has to be authorised - and therefore counts as an election expense.

This would also apply to any other MPs newletters or emails, however if the MP e-mailed a link to a website, or put it on a blog without an authorising statement, that would not contravene the EFA.

To comply with the EFA, all MPs newsletters and some media releases sent to non-media personnel by e-mail containing information that can reasonably be regarded as encouraging or persuading voters to vote for or against any poltical party - and most media releases sent by email to non-media personnel - must contain authorising statements and count as an election expense.