Independent Kate Chaney pans electoral reform ‘stitch-up’ (18 Nov 2024)

The independent member for Curtin, Kate Chaney, has expressed her disappointment at the major party “stitch-up” on electoral reform.

As mentioned, the long-awaited changes would add donation and spending caps to candidates and parties, lower reporting thresholds for donations and real-time reporting.

But independent MPs and senators are concerned the changes will make it harder for political candidates outside the major parties.

Chaney, who has advocated for an overhaul of the federal electoral system, said the major parties’ share of the vote had diminished in recent elections and if they wanted to “rebuild trust and regain their vote share, this is not the way to do it”.

“If this bill is so complicated that it has taken an entire term of parliament to draft, surely it needs to be considered by a committee and the public [be] given an opportunity to comment.”

She added:

The transparency reform is too little, too late, and is a huge disappointment and an insult to the electorate who demanded better. The major parties are relying on the increasing disengagement of the public. The complexity of this bill, the crowded media space, and rushing it through to get away with the only path they’ve got left to arrest the trend of declining support for the sclerotic leadership the two parties offer to the public.