Media release 29th October 2019
Leading corruption experts and former judges today welcomed the Queensland Government’s announcement of electoral reform.
Reforms include caps on electoral expenditure and donations, and increasing public funding, which aligns with The Centre for Public Integrity’s 15 Point Plan to eliminate the undue influence of money in politics.
“The Centre for Public Integrity welcomes these reforms of electoral laws in Queensland,” said the Hon Anthony Whealy QC, former judge and Chair of The Centre for Public Integrity.
“Queensland will now have the strongest political donations laws in the country. We commend the Queensland Government for taking action to improve transparency and accountability.”
“The Federal Government is increasingly looking like an outlier on accountability reform. With no ICAC and the weakest political donations laws, it is time for the Federal Government to come into line with our state jurisdictions.”
The Centre for Public Integrity’s 15 Point Plan is summarised below:
- Caps on electoral expenditure
- Caps on political donations
- Transparency of political donations and electoral expenditure
- Increased public funding of political parties and candidates
- Regular reporting of gifts and interests
- Cap on government advertising
- Restrictions on Parliamentary entitlements
- Alignment of state and federal political finance laws
- Transparency of lobbying activities
- Codes of conduct strengthen and enforced
- Close the revolving door
- Ban cash for access
- Fair consultation process
- Statement of reasons
- Effective compliance and enforcement