Queensland’s electoral laws have changed to restrict some prisoner voting, adjust donation rules and tighten campaign advertising requirements.
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity Deb Frecklington issued a media release stating that criminals serving a sentence of imprisonment or detention for one year or more will no longer be eligible to vote in state or local government elections, or referendums.
Reforms passed through Parliament also included an attempt to level the playing field for political donations, with new legislation allowing trade unions and property developers to make donations for state election campaigns, after a previous ban on property developer donations.
Reforms to enhance integrity around political advertising will now require authorisations on all electoral material in the 12 months before polling day, encouraging transparency and ensuring Queenslanders know who is behind political advertisements.
But the ban on property developers donating to local government election campaigns remains in place, with increased penalties for breaches to strengthen the local council donation ban.
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The new laws also make political donation cap periods annualised in alignment with New South Wales and the Commonwealth, while loans from regulated lenders and reputable financial institutions for electoral expenditure are now permitted.
Ms Frecklington said the reforms helped restore a fairer electoral system.
“The Crisafulli Government is delivering what we promised – an electoral system that is fair, transparent and focused on integrity,” she said.
“These reforms not only put victims first, but bring Queensland into line with other jurisdictions and restore a genuine level playing field for political donations.
