Councils have their say on local government electoral expenditure cap scheme

Published Monday, 04 July, 2022 at 04:46 PM

Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympics Infrastructure
The Honourable Dr Steven Miles

The State Government is delivering on its 2020 election commitment to introduce electoral expenditure caps for local government.

Deputy Premier and Local Government Minister Steven Miles said state-wide public consultation on a proposed expenditure cap scheme has reached completion.

“We have incorporated the feedback from the 22 submissions and will progress the final scheme design as a Bill later this year.

“The proposed caps for Brisbane City Council will be set at $55,000 per ward for councillor candidates and $1.3 million for mayoral candidates.

“The scheme will see expenditure caps applied to all electoral participants, including councillor and mayoral candidates, groups of candidates, political parties, and third parties participating in an election.

“The capped expenditure period for local government elections will run for approximately seven months, aligning with the Electoral Act 1992 State legislation.”

Third parties’ expenditure caps will be 100 per cent of the mayoral cap in the relevant local government area, without the ability to pool their caps across local government areas.

“My Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning released a discussion paper to key stakeholders in April with a consultation period of six weeks,” Mr Miles said.

“Every Queensland Councillor and Mayor was encouraged to make a submission on the discussion paper and the feedback we received was broadly supportive of a local government electoral expenditure caps scheme.”

ENDS

Media contact: Katharine Wright 0422 580 342