Labor and Coalition Finalize Electoral Reform, Angering Crossbench

The major parties passed new donation caps and spending limits, sidelining independents who argue the changes entrench their dominance.

Labor and the Coalition reached a deal to cap political donations at $50,000 and campaign spending at $800,000 per candidate and $90 million nationally.
The reforms also raise the threshold for disclosing donations from $1,000 to $5,000, increasing transparency compared to the current $16,900 threshold.
Crossbench MPs, excluded from negotiations, criticized the deal as a major-party 'stitch-up,' claiming it disadvantages independents and smaller parties.
The legislation includes increased public funding for candidates, rising from $3.35 to $5 per vote for those receiving at least 4% of first preferences.
The reforms, set to take effect after the next federal election, mark the first federal limits on campaign donations and expenditures in Australia.