Victorian Electoral Commission calls for further reforms to Victoria’s funding and disclosure laws

Thursday 4 July 2024

For immediate release

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In its response published today, the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) has welcomed the Electoral Review Expert Panel’s recommended improvements to Victoria’s political funding, donation disclosure and reporting laws, while calling on the Government to also consider further reforms to the legislation.

Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel acknowledged that the panel’s recommendations will improve Victoria’s political funding and disclosure laws, but urged the Government to consider the recommendations provided in the VEC’s response to the panel’s report when implementing the reforms.

‘In 2018, Victoria led Australia with strict political funding and disclosure laws.

‘However, based on our experience as the independent regulator, we see further opportunities for change that can occur alongside the implementation of the panel’s recommendations,’ Mr Bluemmel said.

In its response to the panel’s report the VEC has called on Government to ensure there is clear authority for the VEC to recover state funding from those no longer entitled to receive it, such as de-registered political parties. The VEC also called for more consistent audit and reporting timeframes, and the provision of appropriate monitoring and enforcement tools.

‘Any future reform for Victoria’s political funding and disclosure laws should ensure consistency, equity, simplicity and transparency for all categories of reporting entities, donors and recipients,’ Mr Bluemmel added.

In addition to these amendments the VEC also encouraged the Government to extend telephone assisted voting to a wider group of voters as a simple, secure service that encourages greater electoral participation and equity in voting services.

The VEC’s detailed response to each of the panel’s recommendations is available at vec.vic.gov.au/submissions