Labor has cited Palmer’s donations,including $117 million to the United Australia Party before the last federal election,as grounds for its move to clamp down on money in politics. The move has been backed by many civil society groups and will mirror changes in parts of Europe and Canada.
Under the proposed changes,an individual,company or third-party group who could currently contribute an unlimited amount to a campaign would be banned from giving large sums to parties. The government has not yet landed on a precise figure for the cap,but it is likely to be in the tens of thousands of dollars.
In response to areport in this masthead on Labor’s plan,Palmer,whopreviously claimed his $60 million spend on the 2019 election was “worth it” to keep then-Labor leader Bill Shorten out of office,said it would harm the political process.
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“Limiting the flow of ideas reduces people’s ability to choose,” he said in a written statement. “It is worrying that Labor wants to silence the diversity of ideas in this country. Advertising allows all political parties to express their ideas.”
Palmer’s litigious nature previously has put him at the centre of severalhigh-profile legal suits against state and federal governments.
In 2019,the High Courtunanimously struck down a NSW law that halved the amount third-party groups such as unions could spend on state election campaigns from $1.05 million to $500,000,determining that it breached the implied freedom of political communication.