PUP has allegedly breached Tasmanian electoral law

THE Palmer United Party faces investigation for allegedly breaching Tasmanian electoral law.

THE Palmer United Party faces investigation for allegedly breaching Tasmanian electoral law, with any successful prosecution robbing the party of a place in the Senate.

The Liberal Party yesterday lodged a formal complaint against senator-elect Jacqui Lambie and the PUP for running an attack newspaper advertisement yesterday featuring photographs of the Liberal, Labor and Greens leaders.

Under section 196 of the state's Electoral Act, it is against the law to "print, publish or distribute any advertisement which contains the name, photograph or likeness of a candidate" without their written consent.

It is understood none of the three party leaders consented to their photographs appearing in the ad, although so far only Liberal leader Will Hodgman has complained.

Liberal state director Sam McQuestin yesterday confirmed he had written to the Tasmanian Electoral Commissioner demanding a prosecution of Ms Lambie and PUP and immediate steps to ensure they did not repeat the alleged offence.

If found guilty of breaching the act, Ms Lambie, who authorised the ad, could face a fine of up to $39,000 and up to a year in jail.

Under federal law, such a conviction would disqualify her from taking her seat in the Senate while serving or awaiting sentence.

Ms Lambie did not comment yesterday, but PUP state leader Kevin Morgan blamed The Mercury newspaper - published by News Corp Australia, also publisher of The Australian - for running the ad.

Mr Morgan, the PUP candidate for the seat of Braddon, confirmed the party submitted the ad but argued it was up to the newspaper to "say yes or no" as to whether it was published.

The Mercury, however, said the ad was entirely the work of the PUP. "The ad was booked by the Palmer United Party through our interstate (Brisbane) office - it was 100 per cent supplied and created by them," a spokesman said.

Liberal campaign spokeswoman Vanessa Goodwin said the "apparent breach" of the act exposed PUP as inexperienced and lacking "the attention to detail needed to be parliamentarian".

The ad featured a Wild West-style "Wanted" poster of the three party leaders: Mr Hodgman, Labor Premier Lara Giddings and Greens leader Nick McKim, labelling them the "three amigos".