The state government is looking to determine what caps should be imposed on local government election spending.
The CCC recommended that the government look at caps on electoral donations at the local level after finding spending had climbed.
A government statement from deputy premier Steven Miles stressed caps had not yet been decided – this was a consultation phase to gauge what others thought the caps should be.
The discussion paper proposes electoral caps for candidates, parties and third parties similar to the laws that have been applied to Queensland State elections, as was recommended by the Parliamentary Inquiry.
The candidate and party caps were proposed based upon analysis of actual expenditure by candidates and parties at local government elections.
They are above what the vast majority of candidates spend historically.
Feedback, including from the LNP and Lord Mayor, will be considered in determining what caps the government ultimately proposes.
The paper very clearly asks “Do you support the proposed cap for registered and unregistered third parties?”
There has been no decision made on electoral expenditures caps, other than to begin a consultative process.
