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) (22:16): Thank you for the respectful way you asked that last question and for the fact that you did not make any disparaging remarks about me; I appreciate that, Senator Pocock. Senator McKim: I could offer a couple. Senator FARRELL: Come on—what have I done to upset you, Senator McKim?

Senator McKim: You're putting through this absolute stitch-up between the major parties— Senator FARRELL: No, Senator McKim. This is democracy at work. The CHAIR: Senator Farrell, you're responding to a question from Senator Pocock.

Senator FARRELL: Sorry, Senator Pocock. You've reiterated some points that you'd made previously, and I really have to disagree with you about the advantage that the existing parties get by virtue of their ability to promote the party as distinct from the individual. We are reducing by 30 per cent the amount of money that the Labor Party and the Liberal Party can spend on promoting their party.

The comparison can't be the fact that the existing parties can spend that money. The comparison has to be: what can those parties do now, and what are they not going to be able to do under this new legislation? That's got to be the comparison.

I say: for a new entrant into the scheme, that's a good thing. That's an advantage you have under this legislation which you did not have under the previous legislation. Given the amounts of money that are pulled out of the Australian political system as a result of this legislation, that does give the new contestants an advantage which they don't currently have.

They don't currently have that advantage. They are going to be advantaged by this legislation, and, in the process, democracy is going to be a damn sight better in this country.