POLITICAL DONATIONS
BACKGROUND
The Integrity and Accountability discussion paper explored the framework for political donations, fundraising and campaigning under the Electoral Act
1992. The Act places few restrictions on fundraising, but includes requirements to disclose certain donations. Public funding is currently provided to
candidates and political parties as a reimbursement of campaign costs after an election. The Commonwealth Government recently released a green
paper on electoral reform which is considering the national framework for donations funding and expenditure.
The discussion paper posed seven questions for public discussion:







Should donations to political parties be banned altogether? If so, how should political parties be funded?
If donations from an individual, corporation or organisation (including trade unions) were to be capped at a certain amount per year, what
should the amount be? ($1000; $1500; another amount?)
Should there be a ban on all Members of Parliament taking part in exclusive fundraising functions with members of the private sector?
How should this be regulated to ensure it does not limit legitimate grassroots fundraising?
Should members only be allowed to attend fundraisers where the price for attendance is less than a certain amount?
Should there be a cap on the amount of money political parties can spend on an election campaign?
Should there be a specific limit on expenditure on political advertising?
KEY THEMES FROM CONSULTATION
A total of 111 submissions responded to the questions regarding political donations, including submissions from the Labor, Liberal National and
Green Parties, the Clerk of Parliament, the Crime and Misconduct Commission and the Democratic Audit of Australia. The key themes of discussion
are collected below.
The body of submissions contained some, but not overwhelming support for banning political donations completely and funding parties entirely from
the public purse. 32 submissions supported an outright ban on political donation, however 21 of these submissions were template letters leaving
only 11 submissions that were authored by the respondent. In addition to this, another three submissions supported banning on political donations
from organisations while allowing continuing donations from private individuals. 51 submissions expressed the view that donations should not be
banned. One submitter noted that state based action on donation reform may be problematic – as national offices would just funnel donations
through to State campaigns.
The capping of political donations attracted a broad range of support, with 24 respondents (none of which were templates) supporting the capping of
electoral donations as a worthwhile means of enhancing the electoral process. Among these, there was a general view that electoral donations
were a legitimate form of political expression but that allowing large donations would allow political influence to be purchased by individual donors.
Related to this line of reasoning were the 15 submissions that suggested enhanced transparency of donations, either with or without capping of
donations, as a means of balancing freedom of political expression and the risk of improper influence. The desirability of real time disclosure of
donations was a repeated theme within this discussion.
The two questions regarding politicians’ involvement with political fundraisers did not generally attract as much or as detailed consideration as other
questions relating to political donations. A total of 39 submissions considered at least one of these questions, with 20 expressing support for a ban
on politicians being involved in exclusive political fundraisers. There were two broad lines of thought in the remaining 19 submissions that
commented on the issue, one which saw transparency and public scrutiny of political fundraisers as being the fundamental issue for maintaining
integrity and another which saw the capping of entry fees as the means by which the integrity of such functions could be maintained.
The questions regarding capping election expenditure and limiting political advising received significant consideration, with a total of 50 submissions
addressing the matter in some way, often with a degree of detail. 39 submissions expressed support for capped campaign spending, including that
of the Australian Labor Party. 33 submissions supported placing a limit on the amount that could be spent on political advertising. In each case, a
view was consistently expressed that capping campaign spending and electoral advertising would encourage more substantial debate and
campaigning over slick advertising. The other theme to emerge from discussion on these points was need for an independent body oversee
Government advertising and distinguish between legitimate public information campaigns and political advertising undertaken in this guise.
SUGGESTIONS
Specific suggestions included:







Real time disclosure transparent of political donations (Transparency International Australia).
With regard to political donations, the creation of one code and one set of rules for all candidates in all jurisdictions. In the event that
campaign funding is regulated and public funding is introduced, serious consideration should be given to the NYC Campaign Finance Board
model (Local Government Association of Queensland).
An independent committee to monitor all government advertising campaigns and ensure that public funds be spent for a reasonable purpose
(Action on Smoking and Health Australia).
Donations to be made anonymously and managed by a statutory body separate to the party system, ensuring that individuals cannot seen to
be purchasing influence of a party (Mr Paul Grealish).
That persons registered as lobbyists be prohibited from organising or arranging the organisation of fundraising activities for MPs, political
candidates or parties and rewriting of the Ministerial Handbook to provide a clear statement of the Government’s expectations of the conduct
of Ministers in relation to political fundraising and the importance of transparency in all public activities (Crime and Misconduct Commission).
Recommendation of model under the Canada Elections Act which sets a maximum contribution from individuals of $1000, a ban on
contributions from corporations and limits campaign expenditure based on the number of registered voters in an electorate (The Australian
Collaboration).
Recommended consideration of the Maine Clean Election Fund and the Arizona Clean Election Act (Community Alliance for Responsible
Planning Redlands Inc (template submission)).
No.
Submitter
Name
4
Mr Paul
Grealish
5
Mr Gary
Scanlan
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
No, donations should be
anonymous and managed
by a statutory body
separate from the party
political system. It should
be possible to set up a
state body which
manages accounts for
Labor, the LNP and other
Queensland political
parties. Donations could
be made anonymously
into these accounts, to
ensure that individuals
cannot be seen to
'purchase' influence over
any party.
No. The paper does
outline well the vexed
issue of donations to
political parties. Would
not ban them altogether
as a cost of $10m in a
non-election year or $24m
in an election year is not
something to foist on to
the public! Believe that
funding arrangements are
already covered
reasonably well. The main
emphasis should be to
ensure that direct funding
is covered as well as
funding via conduits to
ensure that the ‘real
picture’ is obtained.
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
No. Capping
donations at a
particular level may,
however, lead to
stagnating or
declining party
finances, which
would be dangerous
for democracy.
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
This is a difficult
question. In theory
no limit – other than
precluding criminal
activity - should be
placed on an
organisation’s ability
to raise revenue for
its purposes.
However the
mischief to be
avoided is to ensure
that a donation is not
of such a size as to
create an obligation
by the party to the
donating entity, and
thus a conflict of
interest. Perhaps this
should be left to
other existing
measures designed
to combat conflicts of
interest. However,
the public should
be able to view
donations made to
political parties.
No. MPs are
supposed to be
accessible to
members of the
public at
reasonable times.
Those wanting to
influence the MP or
Minister have more
chance of influence
by approaching
them individually
rather than as one
of many (including
their competitors)
in a crowded
function room.
Again the issue is
about conflict of
interest.
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Don’t believe it should
be limited.
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Yes. Perhaps
place a limit on
the amount
charged to
reduce the
‘sense of
obligation’ that
may arise if the
amount paid is
too large. Limit
charge to the
cost that would
be charged by a
restaurant
offering the
same food and
beverages (and
the food &
beverage would
be a cost to the
party) plus a
limited donation
amount.
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Yes. In terms of how
this money is spent,
there ought to be a
cap on election
spending for each
MP... This would force
parties to focus on the
battle of ideas rather
than on slick
advertising slogans.
Yes. In terms of
how this money is
spent, there ought
to be a cap on
how much each
party is allowed to
spend on
advertising in any
one year. This
would force
parties to focus on
the battle of ideas
rather than on
slick advertising
slogans.
Yes, there should be a
limit on campaign
funding as well as
advertising. However
those limits may need
to be set at State level
or, alternatively,
should take into
account different sizes
of electorates – i.e.
promote substance of
arguments and
policies over the
‘advertising’ of
personalities. A limit
would also create a
more level playing
field between the more
affluent parties and
those who cannot
afford significant
advertising e.g.
independents.
In particular each
party should set
out publicly and in
writing its policies
for the future, and
this document
should form the
main ‘plank’ of the
election. If
electors do not
read these
documents then
further
expenditure is not
justified by those
parties which can
afford it. Do not
subscribe to the
notion that any
advertising
regarding a
Government
initiative is
‘political
advertising’. It is
important that any
new initiative is
explained to the
Other Comments
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Other Comments
public, which is
different to
advertising.
Election day
leaflets should be
banned. However
each polling booth
could have a large
sign showing the
candidates and
the parties they
represent in ballot
paper order. While
this may mean
that the parties
can’t outline their
preferences, the
cost saving would
be worth it
(alternatively also
allow each party
to put up 1
‘preferences’ sign
at each polling
booth).
7
Democratic
Audit of
Australia
Recommendation 3.
That 'donations' include
money, gifts, loans and
charges levied for
attendance at dinners and
like fundraisers beyond
actual reasonable costs.
Recommendation 5.
That funding and
disclosure requirements
apply to political parties,
candidates and third
parties.
Recommendation 6.
That corporations or trade
unions not be permitted to
make political donations
and that deterrent
penalties against
'smurfing' (splitting
donations among
Recommendation
8. That all donations
in excess of $50 be
declared-providing
Recommendation 2
is adopted.
Recommendation
9. That donations to
individual parties,
candidates and
entities be capped at
$2 200 per calendar
year, as is the case
in Canada. A total
ban on private
donations would
almost certainly
attract a High Court
challenge on
'freedom of political
communication'
Recommendation
4. The current
practice whereby
public officials
(ministers etc) are
in attendance at
functions where
access is
dependent on
payment of a fee is
unethical and
borders on the
corrupt. It can be
seen as misuse of
public office
(Premier and/or
ministers) for
private gain since
the funds raised do
not go into
consolidated
Recommendation 10.
That the Queensland
Government
recommend to the
Commonwealth that
commercial
broadcasters be
required to charge
political parties,
candidates and
entities no more than
the minimum rate of
advertising.
Recommendation 11.
That federal
parliament ...amend
the Broadcasting Act
to require commercial
broadcasters to
allocate 'free time' to
registered political
Recommendation
1. Uniformity of
disclosure regimes
is highly desirable
(but not at a
lowest common
denominator) and
this can be
achieved by
legislative
amendment and
the establishment
of a single
regulatory agency
covering federal,
state and territory
elections.
Recommendation
2. Post-poll
disclosure is
inadequate-voters
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
members) be adopted.
(Though it must be
conceded that
'corporation' might be an
inadequate definition).
Recommendation 14.
That the current public
funding regime be
amended to permit
political parties and
candidates to receive
matching grants for funds
raised before polling day,
subject to a maximum
amount. Parties and
candidates receiving in
excess of 4% of the vote
should continue to receive
funding per vote but at an
adjusted rate.
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
grounds.
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
revenue but into
the war chests of
private
organizationspolitical parties. In
the interest of the
reality and
perception of
integrity the
practice should be
banned.
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
parties and
Independents, ...on a
formula based on
votes obtained at
previous election to
advertise during
electoral campaign.
Recommendation
12. ...consider...
amending the
Electoral Act to
establish a fixed
election date eg. the
last Saturday in March
in the 3rd year of
electoral cycle.
Recommendation
13. ...the federal
parliament be
encouraged to reduce
such (election)
spending by placing
limits on electronic
advertising ... in a
manner consistent
with the constitutional
'freedom of
expression' principle
identified by the High
Court in 1992.
Recommendation 15.
That spending of
public funds on
election campaigns be
disclosed in a timely
manner and that the
components of that
expenditureelectronic/print
advertising, mail etc.be itemized.
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Other Comments
deserve to know
who is donating to
which parties and
candidates before
they cast their
ballots, in order to
achieve maximum
transparency of
the original source
of political
donations before
polling day, an
internet-based
accounting
system, similar to
that operated by
the NY City
Campaign Finance
Board be
implemented.
Recommendation
7. Some trade
unions have been
'affiliated' to state
branches of the
Australian Labor
Party for over a
century and pay
capitation fees to
that party. Funds
should be
quarantined from
the category of
political donations
for election
campaigns and
state branches of
the ALP should
provide annual,
audited accounts
to the electoral
funding authority
confirming that
capitation fees
have not been
spent on election
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Other Comments
campaigning.
9
Ms Margaret
Mack
Yes. All donations can be
seen to be bribes.
Political parties and
Independents should be
funded from the public
purse.
Yes.
Absolutely.
Yes, very
definitely. Believes
that politicians are
arrogant about the
way they spend
taxpayers’ money
simply to further
their own political
parties’ ends with
no benefit to the
taxpayer. Socalled
“information”
distributed by
government about
its achievements
largely a form of
political
advertising and
should be
restricted.
Perhaps an
independent
ombudsman
should decide
what is necessary
information and
what should be
prohibited as mere
propaganda.
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
11
Mr James and
Ms Kath
Robertson
No. What we need to do
is eliminate the reasons
why organisations think
they can obtain political
favours. As I implied
earlier we need to remove
administrative decision
making away from
politicians. We need
strong separation of
powers. Policies and
strategies established by
one level, administered
and enacted by another
and assessed and
reviewed by a third
level. ...we need to
reduce the reasons
political parties need
donations.
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
Don’t think caps are
the right answer
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Yes, but why
limited to the
private sector.
There should be no
functions where
people have to pay
to communicate
with their elected
representatives.
Organisations or
individuals who
want to donate to a
political party
should log onto
their website or call
the party
headquarters to
find out how.
Would like to see
political campaigns
managed by an
organisation such as
the Electoral
Commission. The role
of the Commission
would be to administer
and deliver political
content to the public in
a consistent and fair
way that does not
provide a marketing
advantage to any one
person or one political
party. They would
need to ensure all
individual candidates
and all political parties
have an opportunity to
receive the same
amount of time and
space in the media.
All political advertising
should follow a
consistent format that
removes marketing
techniques designed
to sway people’s
opinions based on
emotion rather than
facts. This would
encourage greater
democracy as all
political viewpoints
would have equal
access to the voter
and hopefully the voter
will make a more
informed decision.
This may help end the
current duopoly that
exists in politics today.
There should be
no price for
attending
gatherings to
meet Members.
It is unethical.
Yes. All political
parties should have
the same opportunity
to announce their
policies to the public.
Oppose political
parties spending
money on election
campaigns because it
becomes a
competition based on
raising money and
slick marketing.
Advertising in the
media should be
tightly regulated to
ensure every
candidate and political
party has equal space
and time to relay their
message to the voters.
All political parties
should be treated the
same so possibly
travel expenditure for
campaigning should
be funded by
Government (via the
Electoral
Commission). There
does need to be
strong controls in
place to stop the
government of the day
using their
departments to fund
advertising that
promotes political
parties and politicians.
Yes. We need to
ban all advertising
conducted by
political parties.
As above all
political
advertising to be
managed by the
Electoral
Commission to
ensure no political
party has an
advantage in
advertising due to
their ability to
raise funds for
electoral
campaigning.
Other Comments
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
13
Dr Stanley
Robinson
Yes. Public funds to be
made available on a
modest basis but
increasing on each
occasion the member has
stood for Parliament.
15
Mr Colin
Hambrecht
No, but should be
declared monthly for
public scrutiny, subject to
a minimum amount of
$100. Donations should
be distinguished from
subscriptions or
membership fees - which
should also be listed and
declared.
23
Mr Dave
Milligan
26
Rev Dr Noel
Preston AM
27
Mr Roderick C
Campbell
No.
29
Mr Paul Jones
Donations should be
banned. Prepared to pay
higher taxes to fund
political party campaigns
if results in truly unbiased
Government decision
making.
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Yes, a ban on any
activity that could
be linked to
fundraising.
Applying a cap would
not be able to be
enforced.
No - subject to the
rules of declaration
and public scrutiny
No - subject to the
rules of declaration
and public scrutiny
It would not be
possible to
enforce this.
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
There should be a cap
on the amount a
candidate can spend,
in particular, the
amount spent on
television and other
media outlets.
Yes, for all types of
media - determined at
a reasonable level for
all.
There should be a
modest amount
allowed for
political
advertising.
Yes. Introduce a limit
or fund the campaign
entirely from the public
purse.
There should be a
public register of who
attends, who they
represent and the
value of a place at the
dinner.
Other Comments
Yes, for all types
of media determined at a
reasonable level
for all.
Ban how to vote
cards outside all
polling booths and
replace with how
to vote cards
displayed
prominently inside
each booth.
Queensland
should take strong
action in line with
world's best
practice.
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
30
Ms Linda
Ogilvie
31
Ms Alison
Christou
33
Centre for
Law,
Governance
and Public
Policy, Bond
University
35
Ms Linda
Ogilvie
(Condon)
No. Need public
disclosure of donations
and sponsors.
36
Mr Peter
Kinsella
No - issue is disclosure.
37
Ms Margaret
Donald
No. It would simply drive
these activities
underground.
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
No. Fundraising
acceptable but
candidates should
submit lists for
public information.
This should apply
to all elections and
whether or not
candidates are
elected.
No. Fundraising
acceptable but
candidates should
submit lists for public
information. This
should apply to all
elections and whether
or not candidates are
elected.
No.
Fundraising
acceptable but
candidates
should submit
lists for public
information.
This should
apply to all
elections and
whether or not
candidates are
elected.
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
No.
Other Comments
Anonymity should
not be an option
for those making
political donations.
Advantage of
limits may be that
it shifts the focus
to quality of the
message rather
than its frequency.
No State
constitutional
impediment to
imposing limits
operate. Limits
are arguable not
inconsistent with
the
Commonwealth
Constitution.
If donations were
equal from all
providers then
maybe would be fair.
If accurate and
proper disclosure
then no need for cap.
Capping donations
would not
necessarily lead to a
No
Should not be an
issue
Put Ministers' daily
diaries on line. Let
what they do be
No - as long as
disclosure
Public money should
not be used on
political advertising - If
limit imposed then
should increase with
CPI
Yes
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
38
Family Voice
Australia
39
Mr James
Myers
40
Moreton Bay
Regional
Council
No - could result in only
wealthy people as
candidates
50
Mr John Van
Der Klugt
Mr Ian Smith
No
56
K Schmah Amnesty
Internation
template
No
58
Corruption
Prevention
Network
59
Mr Darryn
Wiley
Mr Mark
Hopwood
Issue should not be to
limit funding, but to make
donations truly
transparent and
accountable. People and
organisations with
legitimate commitment to
parties and issues
expressed as financial
commitment. On
balance, total ban not
supported.
Yes. Allocate fixed
amount of public funds.
Donations should be
capped.
51
62
No - should not be
banned or significantly
restricted
No
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
more level playing
ground for parties.
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Consideration of cap
on donations from
gaming licence
holders.
Donations should be
capped.
No
Should not be
capped, provide fully
disclosed.
Agrees in principle
that functions
should be nonexclusive - but not
matter for MBRC to
comment on
$10,000
There may be a case
to limit size but
definitional problems
may limit
effectiveness.
Compulsory
disclosure is an
option.
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
No - as long as
disclosure rules
adequate
No
No
No - events
should be nonexclusive -see
Q9
No - if cap then public
funding would need to
be introduced
No.
Have a register
Yes.
Yes - $35,000
Yes $35,000
Full disclosure over
$10,000
Yes $200.00
Yes - but how to police
is the question
Yes - with severe
monetary
penalties for
abuse
Other Comments
transparent.
Should ban 'pay
per view' political
fundraising dinners
Yes
Yes, bribes are too
easy to disguise as
a donation.
Yes.
Should actively advise
the community of any
sources of political
donation
Events should be nonexclusive.
All donations /
fundraising should be
reported
No, disclosure
is the best
control
Should be modelled
on UK system. Public
funding of campaigns
increased and amount
should be capped.
Disclosure is the
better way to control.
Should have real
time disclosure of
political donations
- register on a web
site.
Too difficult to
police.
Government
promotional
advertising should
be banned.
If all candidates
received equal
time (government
funded) on chosen
No.
64
Submitter
Name
Ms Maree
Klemm (joint
submission
with Kate
Ogg)
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
The Government
should adopt a system
for funding election
campaigns modelled
on the UK system.
Public funding for
election campaigns
should be increased
and the amount of
funds that can be used
for election campaigns
should be capped.
Reforms should
ensure that advertising
be independently and
properly classified as
election campaigning
to prevent additional
political party
spending on
advertising purporting
to be non-election
campaigning, which
might be
independently judged
as election
campaigning under a
false guise. Reforms
for increased public
funding of election
campaigns should
allow for new political
parties and
independents to enter
the system.
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Other Comments
popular media one
month prior to
elections, the
electorate would
be better informed.
The Queensland
Government and
the political parties
should establish a
register and
website that
contains real-time,
continuous
disclosure of all
financial and inkind donations.
The premise of
this proposal is the
need to remove
the possibility of
any perception
that politicians can
be influenced or
bound by political
donations.
Political donations
must be reported
in a transparent
manner that does
not create an
appearance of
favouritism or bias.
No.
Submitter
Name
68
LGAQ
69
Professor
Brian Head
71
Mr Peter R
Taylor Amnesty
International
template
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
The Federal Government
is undertaking a review of
this matter and as a result
of that Inquiry, there is an
opportunity for a uniform
process for all three
spheres of government.
Local Government
requires special
consideration as 70% of
elected members are not
members of political
parties. There should be
one code and one set of
rules for all candidates
and all jurisdictions. In
the event that campaign
funding is regulated and
public funding is
introduced, serious
consideration should be
given to the NYC
Campaign Finance Board
model.
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
Any limits of
donations to
candidates or
political parties
should ensure a level
playing field for all
donors.
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Other Comments
It should be noted
that local
government
candidates are
constrained to a
tax deduction of
only $1,000 for
any electoral
expenses
incurred, which
does not apply to
candidates for
election to other
levels of
government. The
LGAQ Policy
Statement
provides that
expenses incurred
by candidates at
local government
elections should
be tax deductible
in the same
manner as Federal
and State election
candidates.
Donation-financing of
elections should be
lessened.
The Queensland
Government should
adopt a system for
funding election
campaigns that is
modelled on the UK
system. Public
funding for election
campaigns should be
increased and the
amount of funds that
can be used for
election campaigns
should be capped.
Reforms should
ensure that advertising
The Queensland
Government and
the political parties
should establish a
register and
website that
contains real-time,
continuous
disclosure of all
financial and inkind donations.
The premise of
this proposal is the
need to remove
the possibility of
any perception
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
be independently and
properly classified as
election campaigning
to prevent additional
political party
spending on
advertising purporting
to be non-election
campaigning, which
might be
independently judged
as election
campaigning under a
false guise. Reforms
for increased public
funding of election
campaigns should
allow for new political
parties and
independents to enter
the system.
72
Mrs
Rosemary
McGeorge
73
Centenary
and District
Environment
Action
Incorporated Amnesty
International
template
Donations by big
business and the
unions need to be
capped.
Other Comments
that politicians can
be influenced or
bound by political
donations.
Political donations
must be reported
in a transparent
manner that does
not create an
appearance of
favouritism or bias.
Political parties
need to fund their
own election
campaigns without
the pay-per-view
system.
The Queensland
Government should
adopt a system for
funding election
campaigns that is
modelled on the UK
system. Public
funding for election
campaigns should be
increased and the
amount of funds that
can be used for
election campaigns
should be capped.
Reforms should
ensure that advertising
be independently and
properly classified as
election campaigning
The Queensland
Government and
the political parties
should establish a
register and
website that
contains real-time,
continuous
disclosure of all
financial and inkind donations.
The premise of
this proposal is the
need to remove
the possibility of
any perception
that politicians can
be influenced or
bound by political
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
to prevent additional
political party
spending on
advertising purporting
to be non-election
campaigning, which
might be
independently judged
as election
campaigning under a
false guise. Reforms
for increased public
funding of election
campaigns should
allow for new political
parties and
independents to enter
the system.
75
79
Mr Luke and
Mrs Jean
Daglish
Mr Benedict
Coyne Amnesty
International
template
The Queensland
Government should
adopt a system for
funding election
campaigns that is
model ed on the UK
system. Public
funding for election
campaigns should be
increased and the
amount of funds that
can be used for
election campaigns
should be capped.
Reforms should
ensure that advertising
be independently and
properly classified as
election campaigning
to prevent additional
political party
spending on
advertising purporting
to be non-election
campaigning, which
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Other Comments
donations.
Political donations
must be reported
in a transparent
manner that does
not create an
appearance of
favouritism or bias.
All future elections
should be publicly
funded.
The Queensland
Government and
the political parties
should establish a
register and
website that
contains real-time,
continuous
disclosure of all
financial and inkind donations.
The premise of
this proposal is the
need to remove
the possibility of
any perception
that politicians can
be influenced or
bound by political
donations.
Political donations
must be reported
in a transparent
manner that does
not create an
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
82
Ms Chris
Lawson
No.
Donations should not
be capped provided
they are fully
disclosed.
Yes, but should be
extended to all
candidates, not just
members.
84
Centre for
Governance
and Public
Policy, Griffith
University
No. A more transparent
system would provide for
the publication - say on
the Electoral Commission
website as well as by the
recipient - of the details of
all donations or political
advertisements by
amount and source
beyond a specified limit
(say $1,000 cumulatively
up to $10,000 in any year)
within seven days of that
donation or advertisement
being made irrespective
of the time in the electoral
cycle. The AuditorGeneral should have a
role in ensuring
compliance.
Furthermore, there should
be a complete ban on all
donations and third-party
advertisements to or on
behalf of parties or
election candidates
beginning no later than
two weeks before the day
Caps of
$1,000/$10,000 in
line with the answer
to Q7 about
disclosure rules
should apply.
See answer to Q7.
Specifically in
relation to such
events, the amount
that any entity or
individual must
report as the price
of attending
invitational
fundraising
functions in any
one year, including
auctions or other
events associated
with the fundraiser,
should be capped
at $1,000 for
individuals or
$10,000 for entities
and should be
counted within the
general annual cap
on reportable
donations. The
admission cost and
list of attendees at
all such events
should be
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
The emphasis should
be on ensuring that
events are nonexclusive.
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
No, the
emphasis
should be on
ensuring that
events are nonexclusive.
See answer to
Q9.
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
might be
independently judged
as election
campaigning under a
false guise. Reforms
for increased public
funding of election
campaigns should
allow for new political
parties and
independents to enter
the system.
No.
Yes. Cap the amount
that registered parties
(including individual
candidates) may
spend on election
campaigns at the
amount spent in the
previous campaign
plus CPI.
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Other Comments
appearance of
favouritism or bias.
No.
No, subject to the
CPI-based inflator
as in the context
of elections. The
Centre supports
the development
and adoption by
Parliament of a
Code or set of
guidelines,
allowing for a
suitable period of
public debate, that
clearly establishes
the guidelines for
government
advertising.
New guidelines
have been
established (June
2008) by the
Commonwealth
Government to
provide a
transparent means
by which the
public can assess
the nature and
cost of advertising
by Commonwealth
agencies. QLD
would do well to
copy the principles
and practice of the
Commonwealth
initiative, with a
limit set lower than
the
Commonwealth's
$250,000.
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
the votes are due to be
cast in an election. These
provisions should apply to
election campaign
material or political
advertising paid for by
entities other than
registered political parties
as well as the parties.
Twice the amount in cash
or value in kind that is not
reported as above would
be paid as an automatic
statutory fine by both the
recipient and the donor,
and perhaps the Criminal
Code could also apply to
deliberate non-disclosure.
85
90
93
94
95
S.C.R.U.B.
Catchment
Care Group
Inc. - Royal
commission
template
Dr Alison
Jones - Royal
commission
template
Mr Ross and
Ms Teresa
Adams
Ipswich Koala
Protection
Society
J and E
Bergin
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Other Comments
published. No
such closed events
should be held
between the date
an election is
called and the date
of the election
itself. This limit
should not apply to
functions to which
only members of
the relevant
political party are
invited, except
where actual or
"honorary" party
membership might
be offered as part
of the price of entry
as a way of
circumventing the
rules.
Yes.
Election
campaigns should
be publicly funded.
Yes.
Election
campaigns should
be publicly funded.
Yes.
Election
campaigns should
be publicly funded.
Election
campaigns should
be publicly funded.
Funding of political
campaigns by all
minority interest
groups must be
declared, including
those with an
"environmental"
platform.
Yes.
Yes
Yes.
Yes.
No.
Submitter
Name
96
J and K
Murphy
98
Action on
Smoking and
Health (ASH)
Australia
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
Yes, a total ban on
political donations from
organisations, including
private and publicly
traded corporations and
trade unions, as well as
on donations from foreign
or trans-national entities.
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
Only small donations
from individuals
should be permitted;
a limit on single or
cumulative donations
of no more than
$1,000 per year, per
donor.
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Yes. Limits on total
electoral spending by
all political parties and
all candidates, and
tighter controls over
"independent"
spending by
supporters of parties
and candidates. An
independent
committee to monitor
all government
advertising campaigns
and ensure that public
funds be spent for a
reasonable purpose.
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Other Comments
Funding of political
campaigns by all
minority interest
groups must be
declared, including
those with an
"environmental"
platform.
There should be
greater policing of
electoral funding,
and tougher
penalties for noncompliance. In
addition, there
should be: prompt
and transparent
reports at least
quarterly and in
the month before
an election, to a
public website
maintained by
election funding
authorities;
requirements for
party committees
or other
fundraising bodies
to state the
sources of their
donations; and a
requirement that
all funding
disclosures be
accompanied by a
report from an
accredited auditor.
There should also
be monitoring of
public information
campaigns from
parties and
members to
ensure that
allocated funds
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Other Comments
are disbursed
throughout the
electoral cycle
rather than in the
pre-election
period. In local
government,
introduction of
public funding,
conditional on
compliance with
caps on private
funding and
transparent
disclosure prior to
elections. All
initiatives in
relation to public
funding matched
by audit, so that
funding is spent
for electoral
purposes.
Electoral reform to
be added to the
national agenda
for continued
review, including
at meetings of
COAG. These
initiatives should
be matched with
suitable, increased
penalties for
breaching political
funding laws, and
adequate funding
for electoral
funding authorities
to enforce these
laws.
100
Mr George
Slatter
Political donations
should not be
capped, but no
exceptions for
minority or
No.
Submitter
Name
102
Clerk of
Parliament
103
Environmental
Defenders
Office (QLD)
Inc
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
environmental
groups as has been
the case in the past.
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Other Comments
(1) Reform of the
electoral system,
with a view to
ensuring that the
parliament is more
representative of
votes cast for
parties should be
undertaken. Multimember seats
(such as
Tasmania and
ACT) or a mixed
member
proportional
system from NZ
are models that
should be carefully
considered by
Queensland. (2)
The number of
seats in
Parliament has not
increased in over
20 years, a period
of substantial
population growth
in Queensland.
The number of
seats should be
increased before
the next
redistribution. I
recommend that a
further 10 seats be
created before the
next redistribution.
Yes. Introduce publicly
funded State and local
government elections.
If there is a
constitutional issue
with banning
donations, then they
should be capped at
a very low threshold
Yes.
Yes.
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
106
Crime and
Misconduct
Commission
Recommends that the
Electoral Act 1992 be
amended, and the Local
Government Electoral Bill
be drafted, to include
provisions similar to s
428A of the Local
Government Act 1993,
requiring that the gross
amount of payments for
attendance at or
participation in any
fundraising activity be
declared to the Electoral
Commission by
candidates and parties as
political donations.
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
e.g. $20 per person
and only individuals
entitled to vote
should be allowed to
donate. The cap
should consider a
wide definition of
"electoral
expenditure" so that
tickets to fundraising
dinners, and loans of
offices, equipment
and staff are
included.
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Recommends (1)
that persons
registered as
lobbyists be
prohibited from
organising or
arranging the
organisation of
fundraising
activities for MPs,
political candidates
or parties; (2) that
the Ministerial
Handbook be
amended to
provide a clear
statement of the
government's
expectations of the
conduct of
Ministers in relation
to political
fundraising and the
importance of
transparency in all
public activities.
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Other Comments
Recommends: (1)
That any system
of controls or
regulation of
election donations,
funding and
election
expenditure
should seek to
provide equity to
all possible
candidates and
parties, and be
aimed to achieve
the greatest
practicable
transparency. (2)
That legislation be
amended to
require companies
and
unincorporated
bodies (including
trade unions) to
obtain approval
from their
shareholders,
partners or
members before
they make
donations to any
political party or
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Other Comments
candidate.
107
Mr Colin
Forrest
Private donations to
political parties or
individual candidates
for election, be they
from individuals,
corporations or
organisations
(including trade
unions), should be
legislatively
restricted to a
maximum of $250
per year and people,
corporations and
organisations should
be publicly
encouraged to
donate annually to
that amount to the
political party of their
choice.
Yes.
Supports public
funding of political
parties.
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
108
Monash
University
Accountability
Round Table
Yes, private donations
should be banned.
109
Wildlife
Preservation
Society of Qld
Yes.
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
If private funding is
permitted, it should
be limited to
membership dues
and donations in all
forms by natural
persons totalling not
more than $1,000
per person in each
calendar year to
each registered party
and candidate. Such
funds could be
applied to a variety
of purposes, e.g.
administration,
research, training of
candidates, etc.
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Other Comments
Yes.
See response to Q8.
Assume that
this question is
raised because
of a concern
about the
practice of
charging large
sums to attend
fundraisers and
in return giving
the opportunity
to those
attending to
have exclusive
time with
government
Minister or
shadow
Ministers. The
problem should
be addressed
directly my
outlawing that
practice.
Yes. The aggregate
expenditure cap
should be limited to
the highest previous
current level of public
funding and be
increased periodically
by the CPI increment.
All expenditure should
be subject to
disclosure and subject
to aggregation similar
to that provided in
reporting by public
sector agencies.
Continuous disclosure
should apply
throughout the entire
electoral cycle
paralleling disclosure
regime for
contributions. Public
funding of political
parties and candidates
should be contingent
on compliance with
caps on campaign
expenditure.
No.
(1) Supports public
funding of
elections and fixed
term elections,
and public funding
should be
contingent on
compliance with
bans or caps on
private funding.
(2) Broadcasting
licence conditions
should be
introduced
requiring that
campaign
information be
broadcast as
community service
announcements.
(3) Donations over
$200 (and the
source of the
donation) should
be disclosed by
the recipient or
recipient's agent
within 24 hours of
the making of the
donation.
Electronic
lodgement of the
information and
verification of it
should be
mandatory and
facilitated. Also
submit that any
donations over the
legal limit of
$1,000 should be
forfeited to the
Crown.
Election
campaigns should
be publicly funded.
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Bayside
Branch
113
ALP
No. The ALP believes
that a cap on the amount
any individual or
organisation can donate
to a political party will
enhance a cap election
expenditure. However,
the ALP draws a
distinction between
donations from entities to
political parties and
affiliation by organisations
to political parties and
opposes bans on Union
affiliation, as it would
severely hinder the
normal operation of the
party. Queensland laws
should mirror Federal
Laws to achieve national
consistency unless
Federal Laws are lacking.
The ALP supports public
funding of parties as a
measure that increases
transparency and
accountability of political
parties.
114
LNP
No. However, the LNP
recommends that an
EARC should be reestablished and examine
whether or not to ban or
cap trade-union funded
election campaigns and
whether trade-unions
should be able to donate
to parties without the
express permission of
Yes, campaign
expenditure caps must
be set at a limit that
realistically reflects the
cost of running an
election campaign and
reporting requirements
should be fair and
simple in relation to
compliance and
enforcement. Similar
expenditure caps
should be placed on
campaigns run by third
parties and anticollusion provisions
should be put in place
to avoid multiple
organisations being
formed to run a single
campaign and
defeating the intent of
the caps. It is
suggested that all of
this would be assisted
by adopting a more
realistic definition of
the election period,
such as six months
prior to the last
possible day that writs
can be issued.
The LNP
recommends that
EARC be reestablished and
the matter of the
misuse of public
funds for public
relations and
advertising
purposes be
referred to it.
Other Comments
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
their members.
117
Ms Sonia
Marshall Royal
commission
template
118
Mr Boyd
Qualtrough Royal
commission
template
119
Ms Annie
Nolan - Royal
commission
template
120
Ms Lessa
Monro - Royal
commission
template
Yes. The State
Government must work to
break the nexus between
developer donations and
political influence starting
with the banning of
political donations and
ending with the public
funding of election
campaigns.
Yes. The State
Government must work to
break the nexus between
developer donations and
political influence starting
with the banning of
political donations and
ending with the public
funding of election
campaigns.
Yes. The State
Government must work to
break the nexus between
developer donations and
political influence starting
with the banning of
political donations and
ending with the public
funding of election
campaigns.
Yes. The State
Government must work to
break the nexus between
developer donations and
political influence starting
with the banning of
political donations and
ending with the public
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Other Comments
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Other Comments
Yes. Election
expenditure to be
capped to a level that
is shorn of expensive
television ads and ads
to be made to stick to
the substance rather
than the spin.
Government
information
advertisements to
be vetted through
an independent
Electoral
Scrutineering
Body.
Methods of
donating to be
defined and made
transparent.
Criminal sanctions
for expenditure
through
subterfuge
funding of election
campaigns.
121
Ms Michelle
McInnes Royal
commission
template
122
Ms Jane
Minor - Royal
commission
template
125
Chek Ling
128
Birkdale
Progress
Association
Inc
129
Mr Leo Talty
Yes. The State
Government must work to
break the nexus between
developer donations and
political influence starting
with the banning of
political donations and
ending with the public
funding of election
campaigns.
Yes. The State
Government must work to
break the nexus between
developer donations and
political influence starting
with the banning of
political donations and
ending with the public
funding of election
campaigns.
Donations to be capped
and from individual
citizens only. Donations
not to be used for election
campaigns. Election
funding to be provided by
the state such that new
entrants to the system
would be facilitated.
Huge costs of standing in
election leads to a
perception of ties
between donation and
influence
No restrictions on
donations
Yes. Set a cap on
reasonable
expenditure on a per
voter value for the
electorate.
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
131
Queensland
Greens Policy
Working
Group
No. Donations to parties
should not be banned but
should be regulated so
that they only come from
individuals on the basis
that incorporated entities,
trade unions and nonprofit groups are ineligible
to vote. A donation cap in
return for support from the
public purse would see
parties less reliant on
corporate donations and
wealthy benefactors.
132
Mr Louis
Geurtsen
No, but unions should be
made to inform members
of how much of their
membership fee is used
to fund a political party
and given the choice of
paying that amount and
the party it goes to.
133
Mr David
Keogh
No. Political donations
should be disclosed in
real time.
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
$1,000
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Yes.
A cap on donations to
a political party should
include things like
entry fees for
fundraising dinners. A
list of persons who
donate money at
fundraising events
should be kept with
receipts issued.
No, this will be
taken care of by
including the
price of
attendance in
the donations
cap.
If the money is raised
through a capped
donation system, there
already exists a
theoretical maximum
amount of
expenditure.
No. Candidates
should be able to
spend their entire
campaign budget
if they want. A
more appropriate
way to reform
advertising is to
even the playing
field through
public provision of
advertising and
other reforms
surrounding
electoral material
law.
Yes. Queensland
should adopt a system
modelled on the UK.
Public funding should
be increased and the
amount of funds that
can be spend on a
campaign capped.
Reforms to increase
public funding should
allow for new political
parties and
independents to enter
the system.
Reforms should
ensure that
advertising be
independently and
properly classified
as election
campaigning to
prevent additional
political party
spending on
advertising
purporting to be
non-election
campaigning .
Yes, Members
should be banned
if their attendance
can be reasonably
considered a
drawcard and the
attendees are
expected to pay
more than the
reasonable costs of
providing the
function. There
may need to be
some exceptions
for charity work.
Other Comments
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
134
Mr Andrew
McMicking
No. Funding for political
parties needs to be
altered so that it is
primarily based on public
funding but donations by
individuals, business and
any type of association or
entity should stay but be
capped.
135
Wildlife
Preservation
Society of
Qld, Logan
Branch Inc. Royal
Commission
template 2
136
Great Keppel
Island Lot 21
Environment
Group
Yes. The State
Government must work to
break the nexus between
developer donations and
political influence starting
with the banning of
political donations and
ending with the public
funding of election
campaigns. Information
on "clean campaigns" at
the state level in the USA
provided.
Ban all private funding of
electoral campaigns, so
that all candidates have
access to only small
amounts of public
funding.
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
$10,000
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Limit to be no more
that $1000 per donor
for a single event. All
donations to political
parties should be
published annually
and tabled in
Parliament.
Membership fees and
affiliation fees should
be viewed as separate
to donations.
No. MPs should
be able to
attend functions
with donations
capped at
$1000 per
donor per event
Yes. There should be
a cap set on the
amount spent during
the campaign and the
amount spent on
political advertising
Outside the
election campaign
period, all
advertising
expenditure
proposed by the
Government must
receive prior
approval from the
Auditor-General or
re-established
Electoral and
Administrative
Review
Commission.
Other Comments
No.
Submitter
Name
138
Heart
Foundation
140
Mr Colin A
White LL.B;
FAICD
Barrister-atLaw
Logan &
Albert
Conservation
Association
Inc. - Royal
commission
template 2
141
142
NCWQ
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
No. Individuals should be
able to donate a capped
amount. There should be
a total ban on donations
from organisations
(including corporations
and trade unions), a total
ban on donations from
foreign or transnational
entities. Transparency
should be enhances by
prompt reporting in
election periods,
requirements for party
committees and
fundraising bodies to
state the sources of their
donations and a
requirement that funding
disclosures be
accompanied by a report
from an accredited
auditor.
No. Donations should be
capped at a small amount
to allow legitimate political
expression.
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
$1,000
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
$1,500
Yes.
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
In local government,
the introduction of
public funding
conditional on
compliance with caps
on private funding and
disclosure prior to the
election.
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Other Comments
Yes. As well as tighter
controls over
independent spending
by supporters of
parties and
candidates.
There should be
an independent
committee to
monitor all
government
advertising
campaigns and
ensure that funds
are only spend for
reasonable
purposes. Also,
monitoring of
public information
campaigns from
parties and
members to
ensure funds are
disbursed
throughout a
parliamentary
term rather than in
the preelection
period.
Electoral reform to
be added to the
national agenda
for continued
review, including
at meetings of the
Council of
Australian
Governments
Yes.
Yes.
Yes. The State
Government must work to
break the nexus between
developer donations and
political influence starting
with the banning of
political donations and
ending with the public
funding of election
campaigns. Information
on "clean campaigns" at
the state level in the USA
provided.
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
146
Mr Henk and
Ms Anika
Lehmann Royal
commission
template
Yes. The State
Government must work to
break the nexus between
developer donations and
political influence starting
with the banning of
political donations and
ending with the public
funding of election
campaigns.
149
Mr Reg Neil
153
Dr Linda
Colley
155
Mr Darren
Yarrow Royal
commission
template 2
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
An amount less than
$5000. Also, a
requirement to
publish donation on
the receiver and
donor's website.
Yes. The State
Government must work to
break the nexus between
developer donations and
political influence starting
with the banning of
political donations and
ending with the public
funding of election
campaigns. Information
on "clean campaigns" at
the state level in the USA
provided.
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Yes.
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
There should be a
complete ban on
billboard
advertising, a ban
on newspaper,
radio and TV
advertising in the
week before an
elections and
regulation of how
to vote cards..
A limit on the
amount of hours
of television
advertising during
an election
campaign.
Other Comments
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
163
The
Australian
Collaboration
164
Community
Alliance for
Responsible
Planning
Redlands Inc
- Royal
commission
template 2
167
Edward Turk Royal
commission
template 2
Recommend model under
Canada Elections Act maximum contribution
from individuals of $1000,
bans on contributions
from corporations and
transparency of
donations. Public funding
to replace donations with
reimbursement of 50%
(parties) or 60%
(individuals) of electoral
expenses dependent on
receiving votes. Any
public funding model must
provide equitable support
for all parties.
Yes. The State
Government must work to
break the nexus between
developer donations and
political influence starting
with the banning of
political donations and
ending with the public
funding of election
campaigns. Information
on "clean campaigns" at
the state level in the USA
provided.
Yes. The State
Government must work to
break the nexus between
developer donations and
political influence starting
with the banning of
political donations and
ending with the public
funding of election
campaigns. Information
on "clean campaigns" at
the state level in the USA
provided.
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
$1,000
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Yes
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Yes. Recommend
Canada Elections Act
model which sets out
formula for limits on
expenditure based on
number of registered
voters.
Yes. Recommend
Canada Elections
Act model which
sets out formula
for limits on
expenditure based
on number of
registered voters.
Other Comments
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
170
Rod and Jan
Smith - Royal
commission
template 2
172
Jennifer
Anthony
173
Linda Walding
174
Daylight
Saving for SE
Qld
Yes. The State
Government must work to
break the nexus between
developer donations and
political influence starting
with the banning of
political donations and
ending with the public
funding of election
campaigns. Information
on "clean campaigns" at
the state level in the USA
provided.
All donations to political
parties should be
abolished and only
publicly funded
campaigns allowed.
Influence of development
industry on political
decision-making has
disempowered citizens.
All donations to political
parties should be
abolished and only
publicly funded
campaigns allowed.
Influence of development
industry on political
decision-making has
disempowered citizens.
Recommend increased
funding for ECQ to
conduct public information
and education campaigns
focused on under 35 age
range. Greater education
about process of optional
preferential voting system
to ensure voters directing
their own preferences.
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Other Comments
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
175
Mary Jane
Turk - Royal
commission
template 2
177
The Office of
the
Information
Commissioner
179
Mr Bob
Longland
Yes. The State
Government must work to
break the nexus between
developer donations and
political influence starting
with the banning of
political donations and
ending with the public
funding of election
campaigns. Information
on "clean campaigns" at
the state level in the USA
provided.
Evaluate Change
Congress (Prof Lawrence
Lessig) model for political
donations, fundraising
and campaigning, with
capped $100 individual
donations and public
funding to match private
donations after viable
threshold.
Rather than focussing on
way funding raised, revise
disclosure requirements
for political funding to
ensure transparency with
penalties for nondisclosure. Consider
establishment of new
national political funding
and disclosure agency
separate to electoral
bodies.
180
Queensland
Council for
Civil Liberties
Restrictions on amount of
donations will lead to
more sophisticated
concealment techniques.
Most important thing is
disclosure of source and
amounts of donations.
Recommend system of
continuous disclosure
(see NYC Campaign
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Where Ministers
attend private
functions where
attendees pay over
a certain amount
(e.g. $500), a list of
persons attending
and amounts
should be
published on ECQ
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Support imposition of
capping campaign
expenditure, but
requires study to
determined equitable
cap. Ban incumbent
MPs displaying
political material in
electorate offices
during campaign to
avoid use of publicly
funded resources for
political purposes.
Note arguments for
and against
expenditure limits addressing level
playing field between
parties would obviate
need for caps. Fixed
Parliamentary terms
would be required for
expenditure limits to
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Other Comments
No.
Submitter
Name
182
Queensland
Police Union
of Employees
184
Sam Scanlon
186
Wendy FitzGerald
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
Finance Board) with rules
including publication of
semi-annual, pre-election
and post-election
disclosure statements.
Public funding model is
damaging to minor parties
and independents definition of political
expenditure should be
changed to cover all
expenditure except
specified items and
necessary to prove only
90% of expenditure.
Requirement to obtain 4%
of the vote should be
removed.
No, but during election
campaigns, parties should
be required to publicly
disclose all donations
(within current limits) on
internet within 24 hours,
and should be illegal to
accept donations over
limits within 48 hours of
polling day.
Election campaigns
should be publicly funded
based on primary votes at
previous elections.
Should be education
program regarding
optional preferential
voting system particularly
for year 10 and 12
students. How to vote
cards are essential.
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
website.
Donations should
only be made by
members and
capped at $1000 per
annum. Full public
disclosure of all
donations /
contributions / in-kind
gifts is essential.
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
be successful.
Legislation required to
prevent media
organisations from
gouging advertising
revenue during
election campaigns.
Truth in advertising
laws must apply to
political advertising.
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Other Comments
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
188
Gold Coast
and
Hinterland
Environment
Council
Elections should be
publicly funded.
190
James and
Genevieve
Gall - Royal
commission
template
191
Jen Tsen
Kwok
Yes. Recommend
banning political
donations and public
funding of election
candidates to remove
influence of developers
and mining and resource
sector on government.
Supports donations
funding reform but
requires more transparent
regulation of donations,
fundraising and party
activities rather than
legislating outright bans.
Oversight obligations and
investigative powers of
ECQ should be expanded
or extend investigative
powers to CMC. Suggest
amending Electoral Act
1992 to impose offences
for intra-party breaches
and introduce random
auditing of party
membership.
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
Donations should be
disclosed on an
ongoing basis and all
donations made in
lead up to elections
must be disclosed
prior to election. All
donations above
$5000 should be
disclosed monthly as
a running total with
donors directly linked
to donations.
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Ban should be
extended to senior
public servants and
Councillors and
senior council
bureaucrats.
Cap on donations and
complementary issues
of public funding of
elections should be
pursued through
public consultation
and negotiation with
Federal Government
and Opposition.
Caps may not
prevent illegal or
questionable political
donations being
made through other
means. Caps are
less preferable than
improvements in
public scrutiny of
donations, such as
expanding capacity
for investigation of
breaches through
ECQ or CMC.
No, preferable to
better regulate
conduct of
functions by
redefining revenue
collected as
political gift or
donation. Suggest
amending Electoral
Act 1992to require
fundraising
functions to be
registered and
published by ECQ,
with revenue raised
to be reported in
list of published
returns. ECQ or
CMC could
maintain
investigative
powers regarding
complaints about
integrity of register.
Supports legislative
regulation in this area.
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Other Comments
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
192
Sunshine
Coast
Environment
Council
Government should fund
vast majority of election
expenses on equitable
basis that doesn't
disadvantage minor
parties and independents.
193
Dr David
Solomon
Important to obtain
State/Federal uniformity
as long as adequate
standards agreed on.
194
Anonymous 1
- Community
survey
Robert Beno
No
195
It is preferable that
donations to political
parties should be virtually
banned, except for
extremely small or
nominal amounts. Parties
should be funded by way
of bi-partisan agreed,
statutorily enacted
formula to ensure greater
independence and
impartiality of politicians.
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
Election donations
from economic
interest groups and
unions should be
prohibited. Election
donations from
individuals should be
capped at $300 per
election cycle and
reported to ECQ
before 15 days of
elections and
published on ECQ
website before 10
days of elections.
Declarations of
donations received
should be published
on ECQ website at
start of election
campaign and
updated daily
through election
period.
$2,000
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
The amount ought to
be $500.
Yes.
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Other Comments
No
No
Public funding for
campaigns should
not be increased
Yes. This would
prevent voters from
being inundated with
an unbalanced range
of political
advertisements, and
limit the ability of the
wealthy to steamroll
their agenda or
otherwise hijack
elections.
Possibly, although
the type, amount
and whether it is
subject to
indexation or
periodic review
would need to be
discussed.
Election campaign
expenses should be
capped at low level
(e.g. $10K for local
government, $15K for
State elections and
$30K for Federal
elections).
Does not wish to
add to comments
from former
Integrity
Commissioner on
this issue.
No
Some level of very
minimal tax payer
based funding
arrangement pegged
at say 20% of the
electoral rate, and
based on active
membership, ought to
be imposed. Members
of political parties can
also pay a
membership fee,
which would enable
fundraising.
Yes, an upper
limit should be
imposed, such
as $500 per
head. All
amounts and
monetary limits
ought to
dovetail with
other provisions
and remain
uniform.
No.
Submitter
Name
197
Beatrice
Booth,
Chamber of
Commerce &
Industry
Queensland
199
B.R Littleford
200
Toby
Hutcheon,
Queensland
Conservation
Council
203
Anonymous 2
- Community
survey
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Other Comments
Chambers of
Commerce and
other industry
associations
should continue to
have access
Cabinet Ministers
as guest speakers.
It is essential that
businesses are
kept abreast of
Government policy
and for
Government to be
advised of
business concerns
/ comments, and
Chamber functions
are an ideal means
to do this.
Yes, without the
opportunity to make large
contributions to campaign
coffers, the development
industry will no longer be
"the piper who calls the
tune" once a Government
has been elected.
Yes, political donations
and the public funding of
election campaigns
should stop. This would
end the inordinate
influence on decision
makers and establish a
more transparent political
process, and greater
assurance that decisions
are being made in the
public interest, and not
simply the interests of
people with deep pockets.
No
To break the
nexus between
developer
donations and
political influence.
$1,500
No
Yes
yes
Public funding for
campaigns should
not be increased
No.
Submitter
Name
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
207
Marshall
Saunders
210
Michael
Ahrens,
Transparency
International
Australia
Principle should be
transparent disclosure of
all donations. Information
technology allows for
immediate disclosure
through a web site - this
would be an important
immediate reform pending
review and reform of
donations.
216
Lesley Cook
218
Gary Nahrung
Supports publicly funded
elections as in Maine
USA under Clean
Elections Act.
Queensland littered with
questionable decisions.
Community concern is
widespread about
developer funded election
campaigns.
Ban political donations
and introduce publicly
funded elections.
220
Anonymous 3
- Community
Survey
Anonymous 4
- Community
Survey
Anonymous 5
- Community
Survey
221
222
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
A modest cap of
about $1,000 may
reduce the potential
for improper
influence. Ban on
corporations and
associations making
donations should be
considered. Full and
immediate disclosure
of all donations the
most beneficial
contribution to
transparency.
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Prohibitions might
send influence
underground.
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Disclosure would be a
more effective
approach. All
meetings and
contributions in cash
or kind to be
documented and
published
immediately.
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
There needs to be
greater
transparency in
political donations.
Full disclosure the
best control.
Full and immediate
disclosure may be
more effective. But a
comprehensive review
and reform of the
system necessary to
avoid further concerns
of improper influence.
Recent survey
indicates some in
corporate community
feel unduly pressured
to donate.
See legislative models
in USA - Maine,
Arizona.
No
Other Comments
Break the nexus
between
developer
donations and
political influence.
Election
campaigns should
be publicly funded.
No
Yes
Yes
No
No cap
No
No
No
No
$1,500
No
Yes
Yes
Break the nexus
between
developer
donations and
political influence.
Election
campaigns should
be publicly funded.
Public funding for
campaigns should
be increased
Public funding for
campaigns should
not be increased
Public funding for
campaigns should
be increased
No.
Submitter
Name
223
Anonymous 6
- Community
Survey
Anonymous 7
- Community
Survey
Anonymous 8
- Community
Survey
Irene Moss
224
0
226
Q7 - Should donations
to political parties be
banned altogether? If
so, how should political
parties be funded?
No
Q8 - If donations
from an individual,
corporation or
organisation
(including trade
unions) were to be
capped at a certain
amount per year,
what should the
amount be: •
$1500? • $1000? •
another amount?
$1,500
No
No
$20,000
State based action on
donation reform is
problematic – national
offices would just funnel
donations through to
State campaigns. Need to
consider constitutional
issues.
If there is to be a cap
on donations, what
indicator should we
measure it by? Need
to ensure the cap is
calculated
scientifically.
Q9 - Should there
be a ban on all
Members of
Parliament taking
part in exclusive
political
fundraising
functions with
members of the
private sector?
Q10 - How should
this be regulated to
ensure it does not
limit legitimate
grassroots
fundraising?
Q11 - Should
Members only
be allowed to
attend
fundraisers
where the
price for
attendance is
less than a
certain
amount?
Q12 - Should there
be a cap on the
amount of money
political parties can
spend on an election
campaign?
Q13 - Should
there be a
specific limit on
expenditure on
political
advertising?
Other Comments
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Public funding for
campaigns should
be increased
Public funding for
campaigns should
be increased
Public funding for
campaigns should
be increased
Banning how to
vote cards needs
to be weighed
against democratic
principles of being
able to vote
intelligently.
Big corporations
have in-house
government
relations
specialists –
should they be
allowed to sit on
Govt boards when
3rd party lobbyists
are banned?