The Electoral Act Review contains 11 recommendations around donations and elections

With Tasmania having the weakest donation rules in the country, a new framework has been revealed that will aim to reveal more details around who is bankrolling parties’ political campaigns. FULL REPORT + PREMIER’S RESPONSE >>

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LOWER thresholds for donations to political parties and more frequent donation reporting are set to be in place in time for the next Tasmanian state election.

The long-awaited full report on the Electoral Act Review contains 11 recommendations, all of which are supported by in-principle by the state government.

Premier Peter Gutwein addresses the media after the release of the electoral review final report. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Attorney-General Elise Archer addresses the media after the release of the electoral review final report. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Key recommendations include:

• A state-based disclosure system for political parties and candidates. The threshold is likely to be between $1000 and $5000
• A shorter time period for donations to be disclosed, at least six monthly and perhaps more frequently
• Associate entities of political parties should be subject to the same donation reporting rules
• Third party campaigners such as industry groups and environment groups be subject to reporting requirements
• Considering some public funding of elections

Premier Peter Gutwein said the state government planned to release legislation for public consultation after Easter and introduce it to parliament before the winter break.

“It would be my intention that subject to the legislation passing both houses that the new arrangements will be implemented as soon as practicable and prior to the next election,” Mr Gutwein said.

Attorney-General Elise Archer holds the electoral act review. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Mr Gutwein defended the delay in releasing the full review.

“Last year was not the time of this reform to be brought forward in an environment where the government was focused most appropriately on saving lives and rebuilding our economy. Now that we are in a strong position both in terms of our COVID response and also our economy, it’s appropriate this important matter be progressed.”

Controversy erupted around the 2018 state election when the Tasmanian Hospitality Association and gaming interests ran an aggressive campaign in support of the Liberal Party.

Currently Tasmania has the weakest donation rules in the country, with parties only required to declare the origin of donations above the $14,000 threshold set by the Australian Electoral Commission.

This means only a tiny proportion of donations to political parties are normally disclosed, leaving Tasmanians in the dark about who has bankrolled parties’ campaigns.