1st Dec 2021, 6:49 PM – Senate Electoral Legislation Amendment (Political Campaigners) Bill 2021 - Second Reading - Commencment issues

The majority voted against amendments introduced by the Centre Alliance party, which means they failed. The amendments was on matters relating the commencement of the legislation.

Amendment text

(1) Schedule 1, item 4, page 3 (lines 11 to 15), omit the item (including the note), substitute:

4 Application of amendments

For the purposes of Part XX of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, references to financial years, in subsection 287F(1) of that Act as amended by this Schedule, are references to financial years beginning on or after this item commences.

(2) Schedule 2, item 35, page 10 (lines 19 and 20), omit "the financial year in which this item commences and later financial years", substitute "a financial year beginning on or after the commencement of this item".

(3) Schedule 2, item 35, page 10 (line 10), omit "subsections 287F(1) and", substitute "subsection".

(4) Schedule 2, item 35, page 10 (lines 13 to 16), omit the note to subitem (1), substitute:

Note: The effect of this subitem is that a person or entity may be required to be registered as an associated entity before the end of 90 days after the commencement of this item (see subsection 287H(2) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918).

What is the bill's main idea?

According to the bill homepage, the bill:

Amends the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 to reduce from $500,000 to $100,000 the threshold for electoral expenditure that can be incurred by an individual or organisation before they are required to register as a political campaigner.

More detail is included in the bills digest, which is produced by the parliamentary library and is a useful nonpartisan document.