Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Real Time Disclosure of Political Donations) 2023

# Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Real Time Disclosure of Political Donations) Bill 2023 ## What it does Political parties, candidates, and certain campaign groups will have to tell the Electoral Commission about donations over a certain amount within 5 business days instead of waiting months. They'll also still provide an annual summary at the end of the financial year. ## Why it matters Right now, large political donations can stay secret for months before being publicly disclosed. This means voters don't know who's funding parties or candidates during an election campaign. Faster disclosure lets the public see the money trail while it actually matters—when campaigns are happening and decisions are being made. ## Key details - **The threshold**: Donations above the current disclosure threshold trigger the requirement (the bill doesn't specify the exact dollar amount, but it's whatever's already set in electoral law) - **The timeline**: Donations must be reported within 5 business days of being received, not quarterly or annually - **Who's affected**: Registered political parties, candidates running for office, and major campaign groups that spend on electoral advertising - **When it starts**: The law would kick in from 1 July following whenever Parliament passes it