Should donations to Victorian parties and candidates be capped at $7,500 per donor for each four-year election cycle?
Political donation caps
Both houses · 4 votes
Background
In April 2026 the High Court struck down Victoria's political donations and funding law (Hopper v Victoria) over a provision letting the main parties receive uncapped transfers from linked bodies called "nominated entities". The Electoral Further Amendment Bill 2026 replaced it: a $7,500 cap per donor per four-year election period ($5,030 before the 2026 election; doubled for parties and candidates not publicly funded before), with no nominated-entity exception and refunds of some past transfers; a ban on foreign donations and on anonymous ones of $1,250 or more; and disclosure from $1,250. Public funding returned: election funding for parties and candidates with at least 4% of first preferences, and yearly administrative funding (base for an independent MP or a party's first MP up from $200,000 to $300,000, before indexation). Membership fees and affiliation fees from associated entities such as unions are not donations but cannot go into the account for state election spending; a Coalition amendment to stop unions being treated as associated entities lost 13–22.
What each side said
Summarised from the debate in Parliament, with sources below.
For “agree”
Supporters said elections should be "determined by the voices of voters and not by the depth of certain pockets" (Anthony Carbines, ALP) and Victoria had no donation laws after the court ruling; the Government said affiliation fees "can only be used for administrative funding" (Nina Taylor, ALP) and unions face the same cap as anyone else (Nathan Lambert, ALP). The Greens called it a temporary fix that brings the major parties' nominated entities under the same cap, and insisted on a review built into the law: "money should not decide the outcome of elections; voters should" (Ellen Sandell, Greens). The Libertarian backed it so the election would not be open to foreign donations, despite "philosophical problems with the caps" (David Limbrick); Legalise Cannabis called it "entirely interim" and said an independent review, which must start within a month of the election, was its "only non-negotiable" (David Ettershank); One Nation said capping donations "creates a fair and even playing field" (Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell). Animal Justice and the Shooters also voted on this side.
For “disagree”
The Coalition said the bill was rushed and that low caps combined with more public funding entrench existing parties, while unions can still fund Labor through affiliation fees — it would "block all big money from the system, except from the unions" (James Newbury, Liberal) — and that it had agreed to a $20,000 cap the Government offered in negotiations (James Newbury). It also argued the rules on refunding past nominated-entity transfers were unfair (Evan Mulholland, Liberal).
How the parties voted
Across the linked votes below. Second and third readings count five times as much as other votes. Parties are in alphabetical order. How this is worked out
| Party | Record | Votes with a party position |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | Consistently for | 2 of 2 |
| Greens | Consistently for | 4 of 4 |
| Labor | Consistently for | 4 of 4 |
| Legalise Cannabis | Consistently for | 2 of 2 |
| Liberal | Consistently against | 4 of 4 |
| Libertarian | voted for the bill to restore the foreign-donation ban, but objected to the caps (see note) | 2 of 2 |
| Nationals | Consistently against | 4 of 4 |
| One Nation | Consistently for | 2 of 2 |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | Consistently for | 2 of 2 |
The votes behind this question
Each vote (division) recorded in Parliament that this question is based on, in date order.
3 June 2026 · Legislative Assembly
Electoral Further Amendment Bill 2026
- Question put
- Question — That this Bill be now read a second time — put.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 48, Noes 27.
- Matches “agree”
- An Aye vote
- Weight
- Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
- Why it's linked
- Second reading (Assembly). Aye = support the bill; agree = Aye.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greens | 2 | 0 | Aye |
| Labor | 45 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 19 | No |
| Nationals | 0 | 8 | No |
Independents, each counted on their own: Will Fowles (Aye)
Every name (Ayes 48, Noes 27) in the vote of 3 June 2026
Ayes (48)
Jacinta Allan, Colin Brooks, Josh Bull, Anthony Carbines, Ben Carroll, Anthony Cianflone, Sarah Connolly, Chris Couzens, Jordan Crugnale, Lily D'Ambrosio, Daniela De Martino, Steve Dimopoulos, Paul Edbrooke, Eden Foster, Will Fowles, Matt Fregon, Ella George, Luba Grigorovitch, Bronwyn Halfpenny, Martha Haylett, Mathew Hilakari, Melissa Horne, Natalie Hutchins, Lauren Kathage, Sonya Kilkenny, Nathan Lambert, John Lister, Gary Maas, Alison Marchant, Kathleen Matthews-Ward, Steve McGhie, Paul Mercurio, John Mullahy, Tim Read, Pauline Richards, Tim Richardson, Ellen Sandell, Michaela Settle, Nick Staikos, Meng Heang Tak, Jackson Taylor, Nina Taylor, Kat Theophanous, Mary-Anne Thomas, Iwan Walters, Dylan Wight, Gabrielle Williams, Belinda Wilson
Noes (27)
Brad Battin, Jade Benham, Roma Britnell, Martin Cameron, Annabelle Cleeland, Chris Crewther, Wayne Farnham, Matthew Guy, David Hodgett, Emma Kealy, Anthony Marsh, Tim McCurdy, Cindy McLeish, James Newbury, Danny O'Brien, Michael O'Brien, Kim O'Keeffe, John Pesutto, Richard Riordan, Brad Rowswell, David Southwick, Bridget Vallence, Peter Walsh, Kim Wells, Nicole Werner, Rachel Westaway, Jess Wilson
Official record: Votes and Proceedings Nos 180 to 183 (LA-60-182-03)
3 June 2026 · Legislative Assembly
Electoral Further Amendment Bill 2026
- Question put
- Question — That this Bill be now read a third time — put.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 48, Noes 27.
- Matches “agree”
- An Aye vote
- Weight
- Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
- Why it's linked
- Third reading (Assembly). Aye = support the bill; agree = Aye.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greens | 2 | 0 | Aye |
| Labor | 45 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 19 | No |
| Nationals | 0 | 8 | No |
Independents, each counted on their own: Will Fowles (Aye)
Every name (Ayes 48, Noes 27) in the vote of 3 June 2026
Ayes (48)
Jacinta Allan, Colin Brooks, Josh Bull, Anthony Carbines, Ben Carroll, Anthony Cianflone, Sarah Connolly, Chris Couzens, Jordan Crugnale, Lily D'Ambrosio, Daniela De Martino, Steve Dimopoulos, Paul Edbrooke, Eden Foster, Will Fowles, Matt Fregon, Ella George, Luba Grigorovitch, Bronwyn Halfpenny, Martha Haylett, Mathew Hilakari, Melissa Horne, Natalie Hutchins, Lauren Kathage, Sonya Kilkenny, Nathan Lambert, John Lister, Gary Maas, Alison Marchant, Kathleen Matthews-Ward, Steve McGhie, Paul Mercurio, John Mullahy, Tim Read, Pauline Richards, Tim Richardson, Ellen Sandell, Michaela Settle, Nick Staikos, Meng Heang Tak, Jackson Taylor, Nina Taylor, Kat Theophanous, Mary-Anne Thomas, Iwan Walters, Dylan Wight, Gabrielle Williams, Belinda Wilson
Noes (27)
Brad Battin, Jade Benham, Roma Britnell, Martin Cameron, Annabelle Cleeland, Chris Crewther, Wayne Farnham, Matthew Guy, David Hodgett, Emma Kealy, Anthony Marsh, Tim McCurdy, Cindy McLeish, James Newbury, Danny O'Brien, Michael O'Brien, Kim O'Keeffe, John Pesutto, Richard Riordan, Brad Rowswell, David Southwick, Bridget Vallence, Peter Walsh, Kim Wells, Nicole Werner, Rachel Westaway, Jess Wilson
Official record: Votes and Proceedings Nos 180 to 183 (LA-60-182-04)
4 June 2026 · Legislative Council
Electoral Further Amendment Bill 2026
- Question put
- 10 ELECTORAL FURTHER AMENDMENT BILL 2026 — Debate continued on the question, That the Bill be now read a second time.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 23, Noes 12.
- Matches “agree”
- An Aye vote
- Weight
- Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
- Why it's linked
- Second reading (Council). Aye = support the bill; agree = Aye.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Greens | 4 | 0 | Aye |
| Labor | 13 | 0 | Aye |
| Legalise Cannabis | 2 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 10 | No |
| Libertarian | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Nationals | 0 | 2 | No |
| One Nation | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | 1 | 0 | Aye |
Every name (Ayes 23, Noes 12) in the vote of 4 June 2026
Ayes (23)
Ryan Batchelor, John Berger, Lizzie Blandthorn, Jeff Bourman, Katherine Copsey, Enver Erdogan, Jacinta Ermacora, David Ettershank, Anasina Gray-Barberio, Shaun Leane, David Limbrick, Sarah Mansfield, Tom McIntosh, Rachel Payne, Aiv Puglielli, Georgie Purcell, Harriet Shing, Ingrid Stitt, Jaclyn Symes, Lee Tarlamis, Gayle Tierney, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, Sheena Watt
Noes (12)
Melina Bath, Gaelle Broad, Georgie Crozier, Renee Heath, Ann-Marie Hermans, Wendy Lovell, Trung Luu, Bev McArthur, Joe McCracken, Nick McGowan, Evan Mulholland, Richard Welch
Official record: Minutes of the Proceedings Nos. 167, 168 and 169 (LC-60-169-03)
4 June 2026 · Legislative Council
Electoral Further Amendment Bill 2026
- Question put
- Ingrid Stitt moved, That the Bill be now read a third time and do pass.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 23, Noes 12.
- Matches “agree”
- An Aye vote
- Weight
- Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
- Why it's linked
- Third reading (Council). Aye = support the bill; agree = Aye.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Greens | 4 | 0 | Aye |
| Labor | 13 | 0 | Aye |
| Legalise Cannabis | 2 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 10 | No |
| Libertarian | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Nationals | 0 | 2 | No |
| One Nation | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | 1 | 0 | Aye |
Every name (Ayes 23, Noes 12) in the vote of 4 June 2026
Ayes (23)
Ryan Batchelor, John Berger, Lizzie Blandthorn, Jeff Bourman, Katherine Copsey, Enver Erdogan, David Ettershank, Michael Galea, Anasina Gray-Barberio, Shaun Leane, David Limbrick, Sarah Mansfield, Tom McIntosh, Rachel Payne, Aiv Puglielli, Georgie Purcell, Harriet Shing, Ingrid Stitt, Jaclyn Symes, Lee Tarlamis, Sonja Terpstra, Gayle Tierney, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell
Noes (12)
Melina Bath, Gaelle Broad, Georgie Crozier, Renee Heath, Ann-Marie Hermans, Wendy Lovell, Trung Luu, Bev McArthur, Joe McCracken, Nick McGowan, Evan Mulholland, Richard Welch
Official record: Minutes of the Proceedings Nos. 167, 168 and 169 (LC-60-169-04)
Sources
- EM
- Second reading (Anthony Carbines (Leader of the House; statement of compatibility, statement of treaty compatibility and incorporated second reading speech), 2026-06-03)
- Opposition (James Newbury (lead opposition speaker), 2026-06-03)
- Crossbench (Ellen Sandell, The Australian Greens - Victoria)
- Crossbench (Will Fowles, UNVERIFIED at date of speech (current: Independent))
- News: The Conversation (2026-04-15)
- Full list: Sources tab (27 items).
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