Article-Donations Reform Call
The Mercury | 9 June 2025; pg 3.
Donations Reform Call
Rob Inglis
Landmark new political donations reforms approved by the Tasmanian parliament this year should be brought into effect early if a snap state election is called, independent Nelson MLC Meg Webb says.
A Greens bill requiring political donations of $1000 or more to be publicly disclosed on a monthly basis – and within seven days during election periods – passed both houses of parliament in April.
It was supported by Labor and independent crossbenchers but opposed by the Liberals.
Key elements of the legislation are set to be enforced from July 1 but if an election is called after Premier Jeremy Rockliff visits Government House on Tuesday, Tasmanians may head to the ballot box before the act has fully taken effect.
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,” she said.
“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.”
The state’s political donation laws are currently among the worst in the nation, defaulting to the federal threshold of $16,900. New federal laws that will see Canberra’s donations disclosure threshold reduced to $5000 were passed last year and will come into effect on July 1, 2026.
Mr Rockliff appeared to rule out moving to fast-track the donation reforms ahead of a potential early election.
“They’ve gone through the parliament, of course, and are expected to be implemented by July 1,” he told reporters on Sunday.
“New laws are there, and we’ll comply with the law.”
Labor leader Dean Winter offered a similar response to the Premier, saying the opposition would be “complying with the law” in relation to disclosure of political donations during a campaign.
“These are laws, by the way, that Tasmanian Labor pushed for,” he said.
“There were no disclosure laws (before). And the Liberals promised this years and years and years and years ago and never delivered them.”
Greens deputy leader Vica Bayley said the party wanted the political donation reforms brought in “as quickly as possible”.
