NATION LEADING ELECTORAL REFORMS COMMENCE TODAY

From today, new reforms will further restrict the influence of big money on Queensland’s electoral process.

The new laws, passed by the Queensland Parliament in 2020, will see public funding increased and new, strict, political donation limits put in place.  

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said these new reforms were the toughest in the country and would further strengthen public confidence in Queensland’s electoral process.

“I hear the message from the community that they don’t want politics as usual.

“That’s why we’ve introduced the strongest laws in the country to take big money out of the Queensland political process,” the Premier said.

“When I announced these reforms, I said they would end the days of big money fundraising and that’s exactly what they’ll do.

“I have also written to the State Secretary of the Australian Labor Party (Queensland Branch) to advise that, from today, no member of the Cabinet will be participating in the Party’s Queensland Business Partnership Network (QBPN).  

“This will mean the end of the annual State Conference “business observers” and all other events associated with the QBPN.” 

The new electoral reforms will increase public funding to $6 per first preference vote for a registered political party, and $3 per first preference vote for candidates.

In return, big money donations will be stamped out, with political donations capped from 1 July 2022 to 30 November 2024 to $6,000 for candidates of the same party inclusive and $4,000 for parties.

These reforms that take effect today build upon the campaign expenditure caps that were introduced ahead of the 2020 Queensland State Election. 

Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman said the reforms were in stark contrast to the LNP’s record when they were in Government.

“While the Palaszczuk Government continues to take action to strengthen the integrity of Queensland’s electoral process, the LNP raised the donation threshold to $12,000 when last in office.

“Taking the big money out of our political process will mean Queenslanders can have even greater confidence in our electoral process.”

The electoral integrity reforms that come into effect today build upon the Palaszczuk Government’s substantial record on these matters, including:

• Introducing real-time disclosure laws – the LNP voted against
• Reducing the donation disclosure threshold back to $1,000 – after the LNP raised it to over $12,000
• Banned property developer donations – the LNP voted against and challenged it all the way to the High Court where they lost.

Media contact:

Premier: Shane Doherty 0439 624 473

Attorney-General: Inga Williams – 0439 949 719