Committee calls for greater examination of Real Time Disclosure of Political Donations

Department of the House of Representatives

The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters presented its report today for its inquiry into the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Real Time Disclosure of Political Donations) Bill 2019.

Committee Chair, Senator James McGrath, said it is important that any rules relating to reporting political donations are fair and not unnecessarily onerous.

‘The Bill in its current form would unnecessarily add a considerable administrative and compliance burden on the Australian Electoral Commission and on a range of political parties primarily made up of volunteers. Submitters to the inquiry also identified a number of problems in the Bill including a failure to factor in the additional expense of compliance,’ Senator McGrath said.

The Committee will commence a review of the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Funding and Disclosure Reform) Act 2018 in November 2020.

/Public Release.