Crisafulli Government delivers election commitment with electoral reforms

• The Crisafulli Government has delivered on an election commitment to restore fairness, transparency and integrity to Queensland’s electoral system.
• Victims of crime have been prioritised with prisoners serving sentences of one year or more no longer eligible to vote in state and local government elections.
• Clear authorisation requirements now apply to election materials 12-months before polling day for more accountability and truth in political campaigning. 
• A level playing field for political donations has been reinstated, with trade unions and property developers now subject to the same rules for state elections.

The Crisafulli Government has delivered on its election commitment to clean up Queensland’s electoral system, passing reforms through Parliament that restore fairness, transparency and integrity to elections, after a decade of double standards under Labor.  

In line with the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to put victims first, criminals serving a sentence of imprisonment or detention for one year or more will no longer be eligible to vote in state or local government elections, or referendums. 

The Crisafulli Government has also delivered on its election commitment to level the playing field for political donations, with new legislation allowing both trade unions and property developers to make donations for state election campaigns.  

Labor’s ban on property developer donations at a state level was always at odds with Recommendation 20 of the Crime and Corruption Commission’s Operation Belcarra Report, which focused on local government elections.  

Importantly, the ban on property developers donating to local government election campaigns remains in place, with increased penalties for breaches to strengthen the local council donation ban. 

Reforms to enhance integrity around political advertising will now require authorisations on all electoral material in the 12 months before polling day, encouraging transparency and ensuring Queenslanders know who is behind political advertisements. 

The new laws make political donation cap periods annualised in alignment with New South Wales and the Commonwealth, while loans from regulated lenders and reputable financial institutions for electoral expenditure are now permitted.  

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity Deb Frecklington said the reforms helped restore a fairer electoral system.