Australia proposes electoral reform bill to limit big donations in politics

The Albanese government has introduced the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Reform) Bill to reduce the influence of large donations in Australian politics. The bill aims to lower the disclosure threshold to $1,000 and impose caps on gifts and electoral spending. While the bill addresses some issues, it still favors major parties and wealthy candidates. Loopholes exist, such as exemptions for candidate donations and membership fees, which could allow significant funding to continue without regulation. The proposed spending cap of $90 million is higher than state limits, potentially allowing excessive campaign spending. Although the bill increases public funding based on votes, it may still benefit incumbents disproportionately.