Tasmanian Parliamentary Elections - Political Donations and Spending Reform

A key element in ensuring community confidence in our democracy is being open and transparent about the funding of political parties.  The effective regulation of political funding and expenditure is important in ensuring the fairness of our electoral system and the proper functioning of our democratic system of government.  Moreover, transparency in political financing arguably protects against any actual or perceived impact that electoral donations may have on political decision-making.

Express your Views

Individuals and organisations were invited to express their views on what sort of controls should be imposed to regulate political donations and spending in Tasmania. We are particularly seeking responses to the following questions: 

1. Should candidates for elections to the Tasmanian Parliament be required to declare the donations they receive? Should there be any exceptions?

2. At what level of donation should a donor be allowed to remain anonymous?

3. Should there be a cap on how much an individual or organisation can donate to a candidate or party? If so, what should that cap be?

4. Should political parties be required to declare donations they receive at any time or only during election campaigns?

5. How quickly should a candidate, political party, or donor be required to disclose a donation?

6. Should there be limit on how much a House of Assembly candidate can spend in an election campaign?

7. Should there be controls on the activities of other interest groups during an election? What sort of controls?

8. If new disclosure and donations laws are enacted what sort of penalties should they include?

9. Should public funding be provided to political parties and candidates?

Submissions have now closed and people making submissions were directed to the full call for submissions document before making a submission

Submissions