Spike in donations to independents after election spending caps pass parliament (14 Feb 2025)
Article summary: Independent candidates, including Kate Chaney, Allegra Spender, Zoe Daniel, and David Pocock, have experienced a significant increase in donations following the passage of new electoral reforms by the federal government.
The changes, which cap individual candidate spending at $800,000 while allowing political parties to spend up to $90 million, have been criticised by crossbench MPs as an attempt to entrench the dominance of major parties. In response, the public has rallied behind independents, contributing record-breaking numbers of donations in protest.
Kate Chaney reported her highest-ever single-day donation count, with 63 contributions ranging from $10 to $1,000. She attributed this surge directly to public frustration with the legislation, stating:
"People can see this for what it is — a blatant power grab — and they're not happy about it."
Similarly, Allegra Spender saw a major increase in small donations, with nearly 300 contributions in the past week—almost half the number of total donors from her entire 2022 campaign. She argued that voters are angered by the rushed changes and the bipartisan agreement between Labor and the Coalition to restrict independent candidates' campaign spending.
Helen Haines, a key independent MP in Indi, vowed to make reversing the reforms a priority if a hung parliament arises after the next election. She highlighted public dissatisfaction, saying:
"Australians clearly don't want to see the major parties lock in their cosy duopoly and lock out healthy competition."
The backlash was also evident in Zoe Daniel’s electorate, where she reported a spontaneous boost in donations. She described how residents in her constituency were approaching her in person to voice their frustration, calling the new rules a "dirty deal" between the major parties.
ACT Senator David Pocock echoed these concerns, pointing out that while independents face strict spending caps, political parties can spend vast amounts on general campaign messaging that excludes candidate names, allowing them to circumvent restrictions. His campaign received a 400% increase in donations this week, with over 1,000 contributions for his 2025 re-election bid. He stated:
"This week we saw the major parties once again team up to put their self-interest ahead of the best interests of people in the community."
Social media campaigns and email outreach appear to have played a role in driving the surge in donations for independents. The response underscores a growing discontent with the major party stronghold on electoral financing, with voters demonstrating their support for alternative political voices through financial contributions.
