Media Release: Early Election Requires Early Commencement of new Political Donations Disclosure laws

Early Election Requires Early Commencement of new Political Donations Disclosure laws

Sunday, 8 June 2025

Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb today called on the current Liberal government to bring forward the commencement of the new state political donations disclosures laws, the recently amended Electoral Disclosure and Funding Act 2023, in the event an early State election is called.

“Tasmanians were told at the 2024 state election the next time they went to the polls they would have real political donations disclosure reforms in place and enforced,” Ms Webb said.

“It would be insult upon injury if Tasmanians were sent to yet another early election without knowing who has donated what to whom.

“At this time when the Tasmanian people are frustrated and disappointed with our political leaders, we can at least prioritise integrity and transparency during this abrupt election.

“It would be a strong gesture of good faith for the current Government, which likes to claim it is transparent, to use its remaining days to bring forward the commencement date of those parts of the new state political donations disclosure laws, to ensure that any political donations of $1000 made from the beginning of any snap election period are required to be publicly disclosed.

“Should the Tasmanian Electoral Commission not be able to accommodate a slightly early commencement of the new political donations disclosure parts of the Act, then the current government must confirm that at the very least the new disclosure laws will commence on July 1 this year as scheduled.”

Ms Webb said Tasmania is less than a month away from all political donations of $1000 being required by law to be disclosed, and those disclosures made during an election period to be made public within seven days of being reported to the TEC.

“There is no good reason for these new donations disclosures laws to not be in force should Tasmanians face an early election, and there is certainly no acceptable reason for these disclosure provisions to be delayed beyond July 1 yet again.”

Ms Webb said the Electoral Disclosure and Funding Act was passed by the Parliament in November 2023 and received the Royal Assent in December that same year.

“However, to allow the Tasmanian Electoral Commission time to establish the necessary infrastructure, the formal commencement of key components of the Act were delayed until July 1, 2025.

“Importantly, in April this year, the Parliament further amended the Electoral Disclosure and Funding Act to lower the donations disclosure threshold to $1000, which is also scheduled to commence on July 1.”

The new and amended Electoral Disclosure and Funding Act 2023 disclosure provisions include:

• All donations of $1000 to be disclosed (accumulative);
• Reportable donations (of $1000) to be disclosed to the TEC within seven days of being made or received during an election period;
• Donations of $100 or more in cash are prohibited;
• Anonymous donations are prohibited; and
• Donations by foreign donors are prohibited.