Special Minister of State Don Farrell, the Labor senator tasked with leading the Albanese government’s sweeping reforms to electoral laws, has admitted the legislation “has taken longer than [he] would’ve liked” but said the delay was necessary to get the laws right.
In Senate question time shortly before 3pm, Greens senator Larissa Waters asked Farrell about Labor’s commitment to curbing money in politics, ending her question by asking the senator: “Will you keep your election commitment to improving our democracy, or will you instead stitch up a deal with the LNP to benefit the flagging two-party system?”
Special Minister of State Don Farrell last week.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
In response, Farrell acknowledged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese did commit to improve political accountability, transparency and further regulate political donations.
“It is true that we have not yet presented that legislation to the parliament,” Farrell told Waters.
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“But one of the things that I’ve tried to do, over the period that we’ve been in government, is to consult with all of the parties. And we’ve certainly been doing that with you – we’ve had direct personal meetings on these issues – and your leader [Adam Bandt] and his relevant staff have also been involved in those negotiations. I’m very happy to talk to anybody in this place that wants to discuss electoral reform.
“It has taken longer than I would’ve liked, but sometimes in this place to get the best results you do have to take longer than you otherwise would like.”
In a supplementary question, Waters asked whether Labor would ban donations from fossil fuel companies. But Farrell rejected the premise of her question, saying “the High Court routinely makes it very clear that organisations in this country are entitled to make donations to political parties”.
Queensland Greens senator Larissa Waters.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
“My objective in all of the discussions that I am involved in at the moments, is to try and put downward pressure on the amount of money that is being spent by rich actors in the political process. I think we have one opportunity to do this.”
Last month, this masthead reported Farrell would begin revealing to MPs the specifics of a bill he intends to introduce in September, a month’s delay from the government’s previously indicated timeline.
Senior Labor sources, who asked not to be named so they could discuss plans that remain confidential with this masthead, said a seat-by-seat spending cap would be set at under $1 million. Jail time and big fines were on the cards for those who breached these rules, they added.
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