The letter follows the High Court ruling that elements of the state’s electoral laws are unconstitutional, leaving Victoria with no laws governing political finance and transparency.  The signatories, including the Australian Democracy Network, Accountability Round Table, Transparency International Australia, the Australia Institute and national and Victorian civil society organisations, identify five principles for the Parliament to prioritise in its new laws:

1. Transparency & Disclosure: The public has a right to know who is funding political campaigns. Transparency provisions should cover the period when the laws were inoperative. In the interim, all parties and candidates should voluntarily disclose their donations.
2. Independent & Public Consultation Process: Electoral laws should be developed carefully, and not be exclusively designed by those with a vested interest in the outcome. An independent review and public consultation process is essential to develop a fair system for the long term.
3. Level Playing Field: Any political finance laws should create a level playing field. Incumbents and political parties must not have an unfair advantage over new entrants or independents.
4. System Fairness: Democracy should not be for sale. Corporations and wealthy donors should not have more influence than ordinary people, or distort elections by donating unlimited amounts of money. Loopholes that allow some political actors to bypass the rules should be closed.
5. Freedom of Choice & Expression: Voters should have a range of choices about who represents them. Reforms should protect the ability of all Victorians and community groups to participate in public debates around elections.

“Victorians deserve a fair electoral system, where ordinary people have as much say as corporations and the wealthy,” said Christian Slattery, Senior Campaigner, Australian Democracy Network.

“Mining barons, property developers, and big business can now donate millions in secret to our political parties ahead of the November election, increasing the risk of corruption,” said Clancy Moore, CEO, Transparency International Australia.

“Parliament has a responsibility and vested interest in oversighting Government’s proposals as to how election funding is regulated – consideration of reform must be careful and transparent with priority given to achieving fairness,” said Robert Redlich KC, former IBAC Commissioner and Chair of the Accountability Round Table.

“Where political donations are able to have influence over government decision making, the public interest and the common good are undermined. Victoria’s electoral laws need to ensure that cannot happen”, said Mark Zirnsak, Senior Social Justice Advocate, Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania.

“The High Court’s decision gives the Victorian Parliament a chance to go back to the drawing board, consult with voters and design a fair political finance system – one where taxpayer funding supports new entrants and challengers as well as major parties and incumbents,” said Bill Browne, Director of the Australia Institute’s Democracy & Accountability Program.