Greens accuse Labor, the Coalition of doing a ‘dirty deal’ on proposed electoral reforms

The Greens have accused the major parties of doing a “dirty deal” to pass electoral reforms, which independents argue would only benefit the major parties.

Both Labor and the Coalition have been accused of doing a “dirty deal” over proposed electoral reforms, which will significantly reduce donation thresholds for independents and minor parties.

Under the proposed laws, spending on election campaigns in each electorate will be limited to $800,000, while registered political parties will have a total cap of $90m.

Individual donations to branches and individuals will be limited to $20,000 a year, with the changes set to come into play from July 1, 2026.

The Bill also aims to boost transparency measures through real time disclosures of donations during election campaigns, and a reduction in donation disclosures from $16,900 to $1000, which are supported by the cross bench.

Greens senator Senator Larissa Waters said the proposed electoral reforms would stand to benefit major parties over the Greens and independents. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

In light of ongoing negotiations between Labor and the Coalition, Greens’ democracy spokeswoman Larissa Waters accused the major parties of teaming “up to do a dirty deal,” while locking out the crossbench from talks.

“Now the two big parties are quite happy to scratch their own backs in this arrangement, and they will do everything they can to lock out challenges to the two party system as well,” said Senator Waters.

The continued dispute over electoral reforms, which remains before the Senate, follows a failed motion from the Greens and crossbench to split the Bill into separate legislations for the supported transparency measures, while the funding provisions would be moved to an inquiry.

Independent ACT senator David Pocock said he was expecting a “major party stitch up”.

“The major parties will ram legislation through the parliament this week with no Senate inquiry and little to no doubt in a last gasp effort to shore up their votes against a rising tide of community backed independents,” he said.

“Major parties should be ashamed of voting to give themselves more taxpayer money with less accountability in the middle of a cost of living crisis.”

Senator David Pocock said he was expecting a ‘major party stitch up’ over electoral reforms. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

Senator Pocock is also expected to move a number of amendments in another attempt to split the Bill, and also rename the legislation to “Reducing Electoral Competition to Stitch-up Major Party Duopoly Bill”.

Fellow independent senators have been encouraged to submit their own suggestions for the renaming of bill, which include the “Shame Democracy Bill” from Lidia Thorpe, and “Snouts in the Trough Bill” from Jacqui Lambie.

While Labor has yet to announce whether the electoral reforms will be passed this sitting week, Special Minister of State Don Farrell suggested to MPs during a caucus meeting on Tuesday that a vote was imminent.

“(He said politicians will) have to decide if we want billionaires to determine who gets into parliament (in the next 24 hours or so),” he said.

Peter Dutton also confirmed “good faith negotiations” were continuing.

“If at some stage there’s an arrangement that’s arrived at, we’ll make some comment, but at the moment we’re still in those discussions,” he said.

Originally published as Greens accuse Labor, the Coalition of doing a ‘dirty deal’ on proposed electoral reforms