'Reform that stays': Albanese says electoral reform needs Liberal support (20 Mar 2024)
Canberra Times: Anthony Albanese has defended Labor's progress and bipartisan approach on major electoral reform targeting political donations and advertising, insisting his government was seeking "reform that stays" through "broad support" from the Coalition.
The government is being pushed by crossbenchers in both chambers who profess a fear of a major party "stitch-up" over electoral reform before the next federal election. The Fair and Transparent Elections Bill, sponsored by by independent MP Kate Chaney, Greens senator Larissa Waters, and independent ACT senator David Pocock, offers a range of significant electoral reform measures including a major donor cap to prevent an individual from donating more than $1.5 million.
However, as a non-government bill, it will not get up without government support. Mr Albanese pushed back in question time on Tuesday when asked about reform by Ms Chaney, saying Labor has been reforming political donations since the Hawke and Keating governments. "That was then overturned by the Howard government. Then there was reform under the Labor government. Then those [were] overturned further on," Mr Albanese told Parliament on Tuesday.
"We are consulting very broadly, including with members and representatives of the crossbench and the minor parties as well as across the major parties to see if reform as proposed by the Minister, Minister Farrell, can receive very broad support. "Because one of the objectives that we have here is to land reform that stays, not reform that comes and then goes with changes of government."
Related article: Donation reform must drive competition Chaney (16 Mar 2024)
