NT Electoral Commission releases 2020 election campaign with 22 recommendations

The government body overseeing elections in the Territory has called for taxpayer dollars to be used to bankroll political parties’ election campaigns.

THE electoral commission has pushed for taxpayer funds to be spent on party election campaigns, as part of its review of the 2020 NT election.

There were 22 recommendations for reforming the Territory’s elections.

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The report, made following last year’s Territory vote, called for a $60,000 expenditure cap be introduced for third-party campaigners.

It also recommended the abolition of “designated campaign areas” on election days and transitioning to a new “election management system” by the 2024 poll.

The NT Electoral Commission has called for funds to be spent paying for electoral campaigns. Picture: Zizi Averill

Among the most contentious of the recommendations would be to limit donations to parties and instead fund party campaigns through taxpayer dollars.

“The commission recommends a public funding system to cover a portion of election campaign expenses for eligible candidates and political parties,” the report recommended.

“This should coincide with the introduction of appropriate limits on the value of donations,” it said.

The recommendation was based on findings of an inquiry by Commissioner John Mansfield, published in 2018.

While other recommendations of the Mansfield Inquiry were adopted, the NT Electoral Commission noted it was not.

The NT and Tasmania are the only states or territories not to fund campaigns partly through public funding.

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