22nd Nov 2021, 5:57 PM – Representatives Electoral Legislation Amendment (Political Campaigners) Bill 2021 - Second Reading - Public confidence

The majority voted in favour of a motion to disagree with an amendment moved by MP for Scullin Andrew Giles (Labor), which means the amendment failed. The amendment would have changed the text of the usual second reading motion, which is "that the bill be read a second time" (parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the bill's main idea).

Amendment text

That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

"whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House:

(1) notes that the bill's explanatory memorandum states that the amendments are intended to enhance public confidence in Australia's political processes;

(2) notes further that Labor has two bills before the Senate which would actually enhance public confidence in Australia's political processes, by lowering the disclosure threshold from the current $14,500 indexed to inflation to a fixed $1,000 and requiring real time disclosure of political donations; and

(3) calls on the Coalition Government to end its attacks on groups impacted by this change, including charities and instead support Labor's political donations reforms".

What is the bill's main idea?

According to the bill homepage, the bill:

Amends the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 to reduce from $500 000 to $100 000 the threshold for electoral expenditure that can be incurred by an individual or organisation before they are required to register as a political campaigner.

More detail is included in the bills digest, which is produced by the parliamentary library and is a useful nonpartisan document.