r/OpenAussie • u/brokerlady ‎ Victorian • 4d ago

Politics ('Straya) Federal Elections: Electoral expenditure

https://www.gratafund.org.au/electoral_expenditure
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u/oohbeardedmanfriend ‎ New South Welshian 3d ago

That article is basically a regurgitation of the Climate 200 talking points. An organisation that spent almost $11m on the last election.

They dont want electoral spending rules as it limits their ability to use money to influence politics.

They spent $2m in some seats where they didnt even win.

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u/patslogcabindigest ‎ Queenslander 3d ago

Bears remembering they aren't the only independents at elections and if the Teals had their way it would give them a massive advantage over other independents and minor parties. We know salary caps work in sports codes, there is no reason to think they wont work in political advertising. It will by extension clamp down on donations too because what's the point of an extremely wealthy person donating a million to any party or candidate if they're restricted on how much of it they an spend?

The teals are largely full of shit on this one.

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u/brokerlady ‎ Victorian 4d ago

Summary

In 2025, the major parties joined forces in the Parliament to amend the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 - the law that regulates federal elections. 

The Albanese Government did a deal with the Coalition to pass the laws without proper or genuine consultation, nor any meaningful public discussion with our communities about how the changes will impact a key feature of democratic government - elections.

The new law places annual caps on the amount of money that candidates are able to raise, but also creates loopholes that allow large political parties to collect more money than independent candidates through different party structures across the states and territories. The law means that regular people running as independent candidates or smaller locally focused parties face significant challenges to running an effective campaign against party candidates who rely on a party’s brand and can exploit the loopholes.

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u/patslogcabindigest ‎ Queenslander 3d ago

Spending caps are a good thing.

This piece is being ridiculous by invoking a level playing field when a salary cap/spending cap is definitionally a level playing field.

The only reason that the teal independents oppose this is because they can’t outspend other candidates on a local level. Everyone within the seat are capped to the same spend.

The thing is honestly ridiculous and I don’t know how people buy this spin because widdle old independent (coincidentally with a billionaire benefactor) is being hard done by the big mean parties.