Campaigning in future state elections could become nastier through a recommended change to Tasmanian electoral laws.
The government on Tuesday released a report which recommended various reforms to the state's Electoral Act, including changes to donation disclosure methods.
The report also recommended an amendment to section 196 of the act which requires candidates to give consent to their opponents for use of their name, image or likeness in advertisements, handbills, posters, or how-to-vote cards.
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It was recommended the rule apply only to how-to-vote cards.
It would remain an offence to publish material with incorrect or misleading information about a candidate.
Political analyst Kevin Bonham praised the recommendation.
"The restriction on not being able to name candidates is a restriction on freedom of speech," he said.
"It is also vaguely defined and based on materials from the pre-internet age."
The restriction on naming candidates does not exist in federal election campaigns.
Dr Bonham said it could lead to more lively, albeit negative, campaign debates and messaging in future state elections.
"We could see more vigorous cut-and-thrust between individual candidates and more pointed attacks," he said.
"At the moment, particularly with Legislative Council elections, debate is pretty restrictive."
He said the review proposed more extensive protections against statements that might mislead an elector in their vote.
The Tasmanian Law Reform Institute submitted to the review that section 196 unduly restricted the dissemination and receipt of information, opinions and arguments concerning government and political matters.
The final report on the Electoral Act review noted negative election campaigning had been steadily increasing over the past 20 years.
It said Tasmania was the only jurisdiction to have a provision prohibiting the use of the name, photograph or likeness of a candidate without consent.
The report made 11 recommendations for reform which Premier Peter Gutwein has said would be accepted in principle by the government.
They will inform legislation to be brought to Parliament mid-year.
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Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
