Campaign finance reform – ART Policy

Nov 18, 2024

  • Real-time disclosure of all donations over $1,000
    Voters must know who’s backing candidates before they cast their votes. This includes:
    • Real time Disclosure.
      Disclosure should be submitted promptly to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) via an online platform. For regions lacking technological capacity (e.g., Tasmania), submissions may be made by phone to the AEC. A maximum 48-hour deadline from the time of donation applies.
    • Disclosure by affidavit to the AEC. 
      For donations above $25,000, donors must provide a sworn affidavit detailing their relationship with the candidate. This includes disclosing any personal connection, such as a family relationship, or revealing any expectation that the election of the candidate or party would result in personal or institutional economic benefits for the donor.
    • Heavy penalties for non-disclosure or deception.
      If a donor fails to disclose this information or intentionally misrepresents the nature of their relationship or interest, they should face significant penalties. This ensures transparency and deters dishonest practices.
    • In-kind contributions must also be disclosed and accurately valued.
    • All financial donations must go through an independent central repository.
  • Donations only from eligible voters or organisations
    Only voters or organisations whose members have participated in a democratic vote (e.g., companies through AGMs, unions at congresses) may make donations.
  • Caps on donations
    Our donation cap policy is designed to prevent any single entity or donor from exerting disproportionate influence, promoting fairness and ensuring that candidates rely on broad-based community support. To eliminate big money and vested interests in politics, donation caps will apply to all large contributions. 
    • Limiting Large Contributions
      Strict caps are applied to donations above a set amount to prevent undue influence from large donors. By capping these contributions, we ensure that campaigns rely more on community support than on big backers.
    • Encouraging Community Matching Funds
      Donations should reflect genuine, community-driven support. Donation caps do not apply to funds raised locally and matched by individuals or organisations. This allows community-backed candidates to receive additional support without facing limits meant to restrict large, external influences.
    • Transparent, Real-Time Disclosure
      All donations over $1,000 must be disclosed in real time, allowing voters to see who supports each candidate and ensuring no hidden influence affects the political process.
    • Universal Cap with No Exemptions
      All donations over $1,000 fall within these restrictions—without exemptions for entities such as Nominated Entities in Victoria. This ensures consistency and prevents any single source from skirting transparency or fairness requirements.
  • Abolish public funding
    Candidates should raise their funds from supporters rather than rely on taxpayer dollars, which only benefit incumbents and entrenched parties.
  • Spending caps per electorate
    A sophisticated mix of provisions is needed to ensure fair competition, recognising
    • the diversity and competition that a robust democracy needs
    • the unequal starting points between established parties and new candidates (independents, minor parties).
    • the legitimate roles of political parties and
    • clear distinctions between campaign communications and the spending by incumbent MPs on the representation they were elected to provide.  Ie Representation spending (expenses related to an MP’s regular duties, such as engaging with the electorate or fulfilling their elected responsibilities) should be clearly separated from campaign funds.
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