Fatima Payman (WA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Special Minister of State, Minister Farrell. The proposed electoral donation reform bill contains some good measures, such as the lowering of the disclosure threshold. However, it’s obvious that this is a major party conspiracy to remove choice and diversity for the voters. Constitutional lawyer and professor emeritus at the University of Sydney Dr Anne Twomey has noted that an independent candidate with no infrastructure under this system would only be able to receive a maximum of $20,000 per donor per year, making it difficult to get elected, while a major party that has branches in the eight states and territories, a federal branch and associated entities could, over a three-year election cycle, receive as much as $2.56 million from a single donor. Minister, how can this be described as anything but a cynical attack on the diversity of the political landscape?

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

I thank Senator Payman for her question. I don't believe you have accurately described the legislation that we have introduced into this parliament. When you were a member of the Labor Party, which wasn't all that long ago, you took to the people of Western Australia a number of things. You took to the people of Western Australia that we needed to lower the disclosure records for donations. We've done that in this legislation. You took to the people of Western Australia, the people that elected you, the proposition that there would be real-time disclosure of every donation that anybody made to any candidate running in an election, so that you could tell, before you voted for that person, who else was backing that candidate. You took to the people of Western Australia the proposition that we needed to cap donations, and we've done that. We've capped donations—not in the way you've just described; you haven't, I think, accurately understood the proposal that you took to the people at the last election. But we have capped the amount of money that people can donate, and we've done it equally for everybody. This is levelling the playing field. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Payman, first supplementary?

Fatima Payman (WA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Please stop misleading Australians, Minister. The ABC reported on 14 November that the increase of the election funding rate to $5 per vote would net the major parties nearly $20 million based on last election's primary votes. Minister, are these reforms tackling big money, or is this just a redistribution of electoral wealth in favour of the major parties that fences off the playing field more than it does level it?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Payman, technically, this level of detail about a bill before the parliament is out of order, but I will invite the minister to answer in whatever way he wishes.

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

I thank Senator Payman for her first supplementary question. I didn't quite get through all of the other things that you supported going into the last election. The other point I should have made, if I had been a little bit quicker, was that you supported a cap on expenditure. That cap is $800,000. I bet you there's nobody in the audience here today who couldn't get their message across to the community in an election by spending $800,000.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Canavan.

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

Yes, give me a break! There is a price to pay, if you want democracy to work in this country. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Payman, second supplementary?

Fatima Payman (WA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Maybe I should stop expecting answers here. Minister, can you explain to Australians why a bill like this can be rushed through without an inquiry or scrutiny, but the ALP's promised HECS relief has to wait until the next election?

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

Senator Payman, again, you say this is being 'rushed through' the parliament. You took everything that's in this legislation to the people of Western Australia 2½ years ago. This legislation is not a surprise to anybody. The only people in this chamber that are seeking to block this legislation are the people who are backed by the billionaires. I say we need an electoral system in this country that allows ordinary people like these people here, and even some of these people over here, to participate. We do not want— (Time expired)