# Victorian Election Laws Face Overhaul After High Court Challenge
A controversial financial advantage enjoyed by Victoria’s major political parties is set to be dismantled following a High Court challenge that deemed the state’s donation laws unconstitutional. The reforms, announced by Premier Jacinta Allan, aim to level the playing field for all political contenders in upcoming elections.
The current system, introduced in 2018 by the Andrews government, capped direct donations to candidates and parties at just under $5,000 every four years. However, a significant loophole allowed the Labor, Liberal, and National parties to establish “nominated entities” – vehicles to access funds accumulated over decades – and circumvent these caps by funneling money to campaigns indirectly. This meant these parties had access to tens of millions of dollars,a privilege not extended to smaller parties and independents.
Uneven Playing Field Sparks Legal Battle
The discrepancy sparked a legal challenge led by representatives from the West Party and teal independents, who argued the laws created an unfair electoral system. They contended that the nominated entities gave the major parties an undue advantage, violating principles of fairness and equality. In a recent defense, the government conceded that the nominated entities were, in fact, “discriminatory.”
New Regulations Aim for Equity
premier Allan is now proposing legislative changes to extend the ability to create nominated entities to all registered parties and self-reliant candidates. However, these entities will be subject to strict limitations. Transfers from nominated entities to parties will be capped at $500,000, while independent candidates will face a limit of $50,000 per election period. Crucially,these funds can only be used for administrative expenses – such as office space – and not for direct campaign spending.
“Fair elections are the bedrock of democracy, and we are delivering these reforms to ensure Victorians can be confident in their electoral processes,” Ms. Allan stated.
Critics Demand Full system Reset
Despite the proposed changes, some remain skeptical. Paul Hopper, a plaintiff in the High court case and independent candidate who previously ran in the seat of Werribee, expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed reforms. “Victorians want a level playing field. There should not be one set of rigged rules for the major parties and another set of unfeasible rules for everyone else,” Hopper saeid. “The current system must be scrapped immediately.”
Additional Electoral Reforms on the Horizon
Beyond donation laws, the state government is also pursuing other electoral reforms.These include changes to ballot papers to reflect candidate dis-endorsements, even after nominations close, and the formalization of a 10-day early voting period.
Upper House Voting Remains Unaddressed
However, a key area of concern – reform of the state’s upper house voting system – remains unaddressed. Despite n
