Federal political donations overhaul imminent as SA Premier Peter Malinauskas pursues radical ban (15 June 2024)
Article summary: In a significant move, the Federal Government is set to propose major reforms to political donation laws in an effort to curb the influence of wealthy individuals like Clive Palmer. However, the Government will not adopt South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas' more radical approach, which seeks to completely ban political donations.
Under Malinauskas’ plan, all donations and gifts to political parties, MPs, and candidates would be prohibited, aiming to remove money from politics. This proposal includes increased public funding for campaign operations, while new parties and candidates could receive donations up to $2700 to maintain competitive fairness.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, while supporting reform, stated that the Federal Government would pursue its own set of changes. Special Minister of State Don Farrell will introduce new legislation to lower the disclosure threshold for donations from $16,300 to as little as $1000, along with implementing real-time reporting and caps on both spending and donations.
The parliamentary committee on electoral reform has recommended these measures to increase transparency and limit the undue influence of money in politics. The Government is keen to pass these laws within the current term, though it remains uncertain if they will be in place by the next election.
Curtin MP Kate Chaney, a prominent advocate for donation reform, emphasised the importance of maintaining political competition. She highlighted that a significant portion of the electorate did not vote for major parties in the last election, reflecting a demand for diverse political representation. Chaney's own proposal includes a $1.5 million cap on individual donations per election cycle, without limiting campaign spending, alongside a $1000 disclosure threshold and real-time reporting.
Chaney stressed that any new laws should not restrict the choices available to voters or the ability of independents and minor parties to compete effectively. She seeks to ensure these transparency measures are in place before the next Federal election to uphold the integrity of the democratic process.
