Member for Curtin:
Prime Minister, today’s U.S. election reminds us of the fragility of democracy. Australia is not immune to the mistrust we see in the U.S. There’s growing suspicion that politicians are acting in the interests of airlines, fossil fuel and gambling companies, unions, or political parties instead of all Australians. Voters deserve to know who is funding all political candidates before they vote. Will the government legislate real-time donation disclosure in time to make our next federal election transparent?

Prime Minister:
I thank the Member for Curtin for her question. Indeed, democracy is something that must be cherished, nurtured, and never taken for granted. Many surveys around the world, particularly among younger people, show that not everyone sees democracy as the default choice. This is why a transparent system is essential.

I can confirm that my government has been working to increase transparency, including on political funding. Just this morning, I had a constructive discussion with the Special Minister of State, Senator Farrell, on these issues. We believe in lowering donation thresholds, which we advocated in the last election, and addressing issues that distort the political system.

For example, contributions like those from Clive Palmer can skew political balance, and we are working to address this. We aim to encourage participation in the political system, including through political parties and membership. While some crossbench members have had strong views on the timing of these changes that differ from the view just expressed, we will continue to work with Parliament to enhance transparency and trust.

Our commitment to making practical changes in the political system aims to ensure people aren’t left behind. This includes policies that give people, especially young people, a stronger voice in our democracy. We will address both electoral and policy issues to reinforce that democracy works for everyone.