Electoral Finance Reform Bill out

The Government has released its Electoral Finance Reform Bill. Have just started reading it myself.

Mainly based on previous cabinet paper. One significant change is they have changed the regulated period definition so that it can never be retrospective (which is very important). So if a PM gives less than three months notice of an elections, the regulated period will be from the day of announcement.

Some key details:

• Comes into force 1 January 2011
• exemption from regulation as advertisements “the publication by an individual, on a non-commercial basis, of his or her personal political views on or through the Internet or any other electronic medium.”
• Regulated period starts the later of day after PM announces date or 3 months before the election date
• A significant non financial change – anyone on the printed roll can now do an advance vote, without having to justify why.
• Non party/candidate promoters must register is spend is over $12,000
• Electoral Commission can provide advice on whether a proposed ad is an election ad
• Candidate spending limit $20,300 (and inflation adjusted)
• Party spending limit is $1,015,000 plus $20,300 per electorate, which is a possible $2,436,000 for all 70 electorates
• requirement for corporate donors to declare all their “associated entities” so donations can’t be split between them to avoid disclosure
• $1,000 limit for donations from overseas persons
• New disclosure requirements for total amount of donations (but not identities) in three main categories – under $1K, $1K to $5K and $5K to $10K

Already spotted a few clauses that may have unintended consequences. Looking forward to first reading, and then making a submission. I will also put the case for reconsidering the decision to not liberalise the broadcasting allocation and limits.