Electoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill makes a series of changes to Queensland's electoral laws covering political donations, prisoner voting, party preselections and campaign transparency. It removes the ban on property developer donations at the state level, resets donation caps on a financial year basis, allows political parties to borrow from banks for campaigns, removes Electoral Commission oversight of preselection ballots, tightens prisoner voting restrictions, and extends election material authorisation requirements to 12 months before a general election.
Who it affects
Political parties, candidates and donors are most directly affected through changed donation rules and campaign funding options. Prisoners serving sentences of one to three years lose their right to vote. The general public benefits from longer authorisation requirements on political advertising.
Key changes
- Property developers can again donate to state political campaigns, though the ban remains for local government elections
- Donation caps now reset each financial year instead of each election cycle, effectively allowing more donations over a four-year parliamentary term
- People serving prison or detention sentences of one year or more lose the right to vote, down from the previous three-year threshold
- Political parties no longer need Electoral Commission oversight when selecting their candidates through preselection ballots
- Banks and financial institutions can now lend money to political parties and candidates for state campaign spending
- Election material must show who authorised it for the full 12 months before a general election, and candidates can use a PO box instead of their home address
Bill Story
The journey of this bill through Parliament, including debate and recorded votes.
▸Committee11 Dec 2025View Hansard
Referred to Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee
The Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee examined the bill, receiving 86 written submissions and holding a public hearing and briefing in Brisbane. The committee recommended the bill be passed, finding it compatible with human rights. Both the Queensland Labor Opposition and the Queensland Greens filed dissenting reports raising significant concerns about removing the ban on property developer donations, restricting prisoner voting rights, and effectively quadrupling political donation caps.
Key findings (5)
- The bill proposes to remove the ban on political donations from property developers for state elections while retaining it for local government elections
- The Crime and Corruption Commission warned that reinstating property developer donations could exacerbate real or perceived corruption risks, particularly in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games
- The Queensland Law Society opposed the changes to prisoner voting rights, noting the proposed one-year threshold was arbitrary and unsupported by evidence
- Applying donation caps to financial years instead of electoral cycles would effectively quadruple the amount of private money allowed in Queensland politics
- The committee inquiry process was criticised for its timing over the Christmas period, which limited stakeholder participation and scrutiny
Recommendations (1)
- The committee recommends that the Bill be passed.
Committee report tabled
▸Second Reading10 Feb 2026View Hansard
That the bill be now read a second time
Vote on whether to advance the Electoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025 past the second reading stage. The LNP government supported the bill 49-35, with ALP, Greens and independents (Bolton) voting against.
The motion passed.
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Ayes (49)
Noes (35)
Vote on a motion
Vote on the ALP Manager of Opposition Business's motion that the member for Algester (Ms Enoch) be now heard during Consideration in Detail, after the Speaker gave the call to the Attorney-General. Defeated 36-49 by the government.
The motion was rejected.
A formal vote on whether to accept a proposal — this could be the bill itself, an amendment, or another motion.
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Ayes (36)
Noes (49)
▸8 members spoke4 support4 oppose
As Attorney-General, moved the second reading and replied to the debate. Argued the bill restores fairness by removing what she described as Labor's 'financial gerrymander' that banned property developer donations while allowing union donations, and defended aligning donation cap periods with financial years as consistent with other jurisdictions.
“It is very simple: Queensland's electoral system should treat all lawful participants equally. This reform is long overdue to right this shameful wrong of the former Labor government.”— 2026-02-10View Hansard
As shadow attorney-general, strongly opposed the bill, arguing it weakens integrity safeguards by lifting the ban on property developer donations, effectively quadruples donation caps by changing to annual periods, and increases corruption risk as warned by the Crime and Corruption Commission, particularly in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympics.
“This bill says one thing on the cover and does the complete opposite on the inside. This bill claims to restore fairness but it actually weakens integrity. It opens the door to big money and increases the risk of corruption in Queensland politics.”— 2026-02-10View Hansard
Supported the bill on three grounds: protecting candidate safety through PO box addresses on authorisation statements, restoring a level playing field by treating unions and property developers equally on donations, and ensuring serious criminals serving one year or more cannot vote.
“No longer should Queensland have one rule for trade unions and Labor and another rule for everyone else.”— 2026-02-10View Hansard
Opposed the bill, arguing it weakens integrity reforms Labor built over successive terms, increases private money in politics, and creates a backdoor for property developer influence at local government level. Recalled the LNP's history of taking the Electoral Commission to the Supreme Court over disclosure requirements.
“This bill in no way restores electoral fairness: it weakens it shamefully.”— 2026-02-10View Hansard
Supported the bill as implementing clear election commitments to restore balance, strengthen integrity and reinforce confidence in democratic processes.
Supported the bill, arguing property developers are not criminals and that the previous ban was a financial gerrymander by Labor to benefit from union donations while restricting others. Also supported restricting prisoner voting.
“I will be able to look my developer friends on the Gold Coast in the eye and say, 'You are not criminals, as the Labor Party calls you.'”— 2026-02-10View Hansard
Voted against the bill at both second and third reading divisions, siding with the opposition against the government's electoral reforms.
Voted against the bill at all division stages, opposing the lifting of property developer donation bans and the weakening of electoral integrity measures.
▸In Detail10 Feb 2026View Hansard
Opposition amendment to change the short title of the bill from 'Electoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Act 2025' to 'Electoral Laws (Increasing Private Money in Queensland Elections) Amendment Act 2025' to reflect what the opposition argued was the bill's true effect.
That the amendment be agreed to
Vote on Ms Scanlon's amendment to rename the bill from 'Restoring Electoral Fairness' to 'Increasing Private Money in Queensland Elections'. Defeated 35-50, with the independent member for Noosa (Ms Bolton) voting with the government against the amendment.
The motion was defeated.
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Ayes (35)
Noes (50)
▸Third Reading10 Feb 2026View Hansard
That the bill be now read a third time
Final passage vote on the Electoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025. Passed 49-36, with the LNP in favour and ALP, Greens and independents (Bolton, Sullivan) against.
The motion passed.
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Ayes (49)
Noes (36)
Referenced Entities
Legislation
Sectors Affected
Classified using AGIFT/ANZSIC Australian government standards