Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Rennick, this legislation doesn't do what you say. It does the opposite of what you say. Instead of having to raise, for Senate candidates and the Australian capital cities, $1.7 million to compete with other candidates, there is now a ceiling. For smaller parties this is a boon. This is the best piece of legislation that has ever been presented to the Australian parliament. Now, your candidates at the election after the next election are going to have to raise a whole lot less money in order to get themselves elected.

Look, if they do get that four per cent, yes, they get some government funding; that is true. I don't think that's an unreasonable position to get to. If you believe people are going to be attracted to your political party, Senator Rennick, then one imagines they're going to get a lot more than four per cent. But your candidates are going to have to raise a damn sight less money to contest the election after next than they're going to have to do now, and that's a good thing. That's a good thing for Australian democracy. It's a good thing for your fledgling party. You are not disadvantaged by this legislation, Senator Rennick; you are advantaged. It's helping parties like yours by creating, for the first time since Federation, a level playing field.