Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Reform) Bill 2024

Senator FARRELL (South Australia—Minister for Trade and Tourism, Special Minister of State and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) (20:57): Thank you, Senator Hume, for your question. The beauty of this bill is that it treats everybody equally. It sets an amount of money that you can spend— Senator Rennick interjecting— Senator FARRELL: I like Mary MacKillop.

She was a wonderful lady and— The TEMPORARY CHAIR ( Senator Fawcett ): Minister, you'll ignore the interjections. Senator Rennick, you know the standing orders. Minister.

Senator FARRELL: The beauty of this bill is that it puts downward pressure on total expenditure, but it also ensures that everybody gets treated equally, in terms of their ability to run a campaign. What I say about the $800,000 is simply this. If you can't get your message out to the Australian community with an expenditure of $800,000 then you shouldn't be in the game of politics.

Senator Lambie interjecting— Senator FARRELL: I know you disagree, Senator Lambie. The TEMPORARY CHAIR: Minister, ignore the interjections. Senator Lambie, standing order 197.

Senator FARRELL: Wake up, Senator. The TEMPORARY CHAIR: Minister, you have the call. Senator FARRELL: This bill is about putting downward pressure.

It's all about taking big money out of the electoral process and it's all about treating all candidates equally, in terms of their ability to get elected to this place. You shouldn't, any longer, be in the thrall of a billionaire to be elected to this place. Ordinary Australians have to have the ability to be elected, and that's exactly what this bill does.