Charities hit out at electoral reform

The union movement, charities and the Uniting Church are railing against proposed electoral reforms in Queensland.

Uniting Church Queensland reverend David Baker has ‘profound concerns’ about the bill. Picture: News Regional Media

The union movement, charities, the Uniting Church and not-for-profit organisations are railing against proposed electoral reforms contained in the Palas­zczuk Labor government’s so-called “Trad laws”.

Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath introduced the wide-ranging legislation late last year in an attempt to comply with the Crime and Corruption Commission’s recommendation that criminal sanctions be introduced for ministers who fail to properly declare conflicts of interest, in the wake of Deputy Premier Jackie Trad’s investment property scandal.

The CCC says it is unsatisfied with the government’s draft criminal sanctions, and there is widespread disquiet about the electoral reform elements of the legislation, including caps on campaign expenditure and political donations.

Uniting Church Queensland Synod moderator David Baker said he had “profound concerns” about the bill, which he said was a “serious constraint on freedom of speech” because it restricted the funding of “public discourse”.

“The bill privileges four groups — for-profit companies, unions, governments and political parties with representation — over other groups, and severely disadvantages charities and civil society groups,” the Reverend Baker’s submission reads.

“It is profoundly partisan and unfair. The bill effectively advances one side of politics at the ­expense of the other.”

The legislation allows third parties to spend up to $1m on campaigning in an election, with a cap of $87,000 per electorate.

The Liberal National Party opposition has said this would mean individual unions would each be able to spend $1m in campaigning for the Labor Party, whereas the LNP did not have the same kind of lucrative third-party support. Submissions to the parliamentary committee examining the bill reveal unions also have concerns about the proposed legislation.

Queensland Council of Unions research and policy officer John Martin said while the state’s peak union body supported the “general thrust” of the reforms, the limitations might “restrict the ability of unions to represent members”.

The Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union goes further, warning the government against the “unintended consequences” of trying to increase the regulation of union behaviour, including increasing the require­ments of unions to report expenditure and be scrutinised.

The Human Rights Law Centre senior lawyer Alice Drury applauded the government for aiming to improve the integrity of elections, but said she had ­“serious concerns” with the way the bill regulated third parties.

“We believe the bill will stifle advocacy by small not-for-profit community groups and charities, and simultaneously will do little to govern enormous election spends by industry associations and corporations,” Ms Drury’s submission reads. The parliamentary committee will hear evidence on the bill next week, and will report back in February.