December 5, 2004
MP message flood
Australian voters already reeling from mail-outs and recorded messages from politicians are about to be bombarded by text-happy MPs, reports the The Herald Sun.
"A ministerial decision has given the green light for MPs to text constituents with everything from electorate news to the latest government programs and Christmas greetings.
Federal politicians are still barred from spamming an electorate in one hit. But they can now text up to 7000 constituents, or almost 10 per cent of their electorate, over three years.
The cost would amount to about $1800 an MP over three years.
Questions remain as to how the MPs would get phone numbers, but parties spend considerable resources building databases of information on their constituents.
MPs will be able to ask constituents for their mobile numbers, but increasing numbers are listing their mobile numbers in the directory. "
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