{"id":"BILL-QLD-electoral-laws-restoring-electoral-fairness-amendment-bill-2025","name":"Electoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025","slug":"electoral-laws-restoring-electoral-fairness-amendment-bill-2025","collection":"bill","jurisdiction":"qld","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":"2025-01-01","administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":446093,"registerId":"BILL-QLD-electoral-laws-restoring-electoral-fairness-amendment-bill-2025:current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2025-01-01","status":"in_force","reasons":null,"registeredAt":"2026-05-06T12:45:14.638Z"},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0001","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 1","content":"# Electoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\n\nQueensland\nElectoral Laws (Restoring\nElectoral Fairness)\nAmendment Bill 2025\n\nQueensland\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral\nFairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nContents\nPage\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Short title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6\n2 Commencement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6\nPart 2 Amendment of Electoral Act 1992\n3 Act amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6\n4 Amendment of s 58 (Commission to keep electoral rolls) . . . . . . 7\n5 Amendment of s 64 (Entitlement to enrolment) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7\n6 Amendment of s 106 (Who may vote) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7\n7 Amendment of s 115 (Who must make a declaration vote) . . . . 8\n8 Omission of pt 9 (Commission oversight of preselection ballots) 9\n9 Insertion of new s 180A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9\n180A Definitions for division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9\n10 Amendment of s 181 (Author of election matter must be named) 9\n11 Amendment of s 182 (Distribution of how-to-vote cards) . . . . . . 10\n12 Amendment of s 197 (Definitions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10\n13 Amendment of s 216 (Payments into State campaign account) . 11\n14 Replacement of s 247 (Meaning of donation cap period) . . . . . . 11\n247 Meaning of donation cap period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11\n15 Amendment of s 253 (Adjustment of donation cap) . . . . . . . . . . 11\n16 Amendment of s 255 (Caps on political donations made to candidates)\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12\n17 Omission of pt 11, div 8, sdiv 4 (Political donations from property\ndevelopers) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12\n18 Omission of s 307A (Offence about prohibited donations) . . . . . 12\n19 Amendment of s 307B (Schemes to circumvent prohibition on particular\npolitical donations or electoral expenditure) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13\n\nContents\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 2\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n20 Omission of s 307C (False or misleading information relating to\ndeterminations) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13\n21 Amendment of s 374 (Right of appeal) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13\n22 Amendment of s 385 (Particular offences under this part are summary)\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13\n23 Insertion of new pt 13, div 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14\nDivision 13 Transitional provisions for Electoral Laws (Restoring\nElectoral Fairness) Amendment Act 2025\n451 Definitions for division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14\n452 Prisoner voting in particular elections . . . . . . . . . . . . 14\n453 Election matter etc. for particular elections . . . . . . . . 14\n454 Existing inquiry into preselection ballot . . . . . . . . . . . 15\n455 Current audit of preselection ballot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15\n456 Transitional provision for donation cap periods . . . . . 16\n457 Proceedings for particular offences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16\n458 Recovery of particular donations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17\n459 Register of determinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17\n24 Amendment of sch 1 (Dictionary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17\nPart 3 Amendment of Local Government Electoral Act 2011\n25 Act amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18\n26 Insertion of new s 16A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18\n16A Definition for division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18\n27 Amendment of s 17 (Returning officer must compile voters roll) . 18\n28 Insertion of new s 17A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19\n17A Information about persons serving sentences of\nimprisonment or detention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19\n29 Amendment of s 19 (Requirements of voters roll) . . . . . . . . . . . . 20\n30 Replacement of s 64 (Who may vote) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20\n64 Who may vote . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20\n31 Amendment of s 69 (Who must complete a declaration envelope) 21\n32 Amendment of s 106 (Definitions for part) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21\n33 Amendment of s 113A (Meaning of political donation) . . . . . . . . 22\n34 Insertion of new s 113AB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22\n113AB Meaning of restricted donation statement . . . . . . . . . 22\n35 Insertion of new s 113BA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22\n113BA Use of restricted donations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23\n36 Amendment of s 113C (Recovery of prohibited donations) . . . . . 23\n\nContents\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 3\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n37 Amendment of s 113D (Making of determination that entity is not a\nprohibited donor) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23\n38 Amendment of s 113E (Revocation of determination) . . . . . . . . . 23\n39 Amendment of s 113G (Review of decisions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24\n40 Amendment of s 127AA (Requirement for registered political party to\noperate dedicated account) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24\n41 Amendment of s 194A (Offence about prohibited donations) . . . 24\n42 Amendment of s 205 (Persons serving a sentence of imprisonment) 25\n43 Insertion of new pt 11, div 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25\nDivision 7 Transitional provisions for Electoral Laws (Restoring\nElectoral Fairness) Amendment Act 2025\n238 Definitions for division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25\n239 Prisoner voting in particular elections . . . . . . . . . . . . 26\n240 Recovery of particular donations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26\n241 Proceedings for particular offences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26\n44 Amendment of sch 2 (Dictionary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27\nPart 4 Amendment of Referendums Act 1997\n45 Act amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27\n46 Amendment of s 21 (Who may vote) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27\n47 Amendment of s 26 (Who must make a declaration vote) . . . . . 29\n48 Insertion of new pt 9, div 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29\nDivision 3 Transitional provision for Electoral Laws (Restoring\nElectoral Fairness) Amendment Act 2025\n103 Voting in particular referendums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29\nPart 5 Other amendments\n49 Legislation amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30\nSchedule 1 Other amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31\nCity of Brisbane Act 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31\nElectoral Regulation 2024 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31\nLocal Government Act 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32\n\n2025\nA Bill\nfor\nAn Act to amend the Electoral Act 1992, the Local Government\nElectoral Act 2011, the Referendums Act 1997 and the\nlegislation mentioned in schedule 1 for particular purposes\n\nPage 6\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 1]\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 1 Preliminary\nThe Parliament of Queensland enacts—\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Electoral Laws (Restoring\nElectoral Fairness) Amendment Act 2025.\n2 Commencement\n(1) The following provisions of this Act commence on a day to be\nfixed by proclamation—\n(a) sections 4 to 7;\n(b) section 23 to the extent it inserts new section 452;\n(c) sections 26 to 31;\n(d) section 42;\n(e) section 43 to the extent it inserts new section 239;\n(f) part 4.\n(2) The remaining provisions of this Act commence on the day\nthat is 28 days after the date of assent.\nPart 2 Amendment of Electoral Act\n1992\n3 Act amended\nThis part amends the Electoral Act 1992.\n1\n2\nClause 3\n4\n5\nClause 6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\nClause 19\n20\n\nPage 7\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 4]\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Electoral Act 1992\n4 Amendment of s 58 (Commission to keep electoral rolls)\n(1) Section 58(8)—\nomit, insert—\n(8) To enable the commission to decide the persons\nwho are not entitled to vote because of section\n106(2), the commission may ask—\n(a) the chief executive (corrective services) to\ngive the commission information about\npersons who are serving sentences or terms\nof imprisonment for offences against the\nlaw of the Commonwealth or of a State or\nTerritory; or\n(b) the chief executive (youth justice) to give\nthe commission information about persons\naged at least 18 years who—\n(i) are serving a sentence of detention; or\n(ii) were serving a sentence of detention of\n1 year or longer and have been\ntransferred to serve the sentence as a\nterm of imprisonment.\n(2) Section 58(9), ‘(corrective services)’—\nomit.\n5 Amendment of s 64 (Entitlement to enrolment)\nSection 64, after ‘imprisonment’—\ninsert—\nor detention\n6 Amendment of s 106 (Who may vote)\n(1) Section 106(2), ‘A person’\nomit, insert—\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\nClause 23\n24\n25\n26\nClause 27\n28\n29\n\nPage 8\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 7]\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Electoral Act 1992\nAlso, a person\n(2) Section 106(3), ‘Also,’—\nomit, insert—\nHowever,\n(3) Section 106(3) and (4), after ‘imprisonment’—\ninsert—\nor detention\n(4) Section 106(3), ‘3 years’—\nomit, insert—\n1 year\n(5) Section 106(3)—\nrelocate and renumber as section 106(1A).\n(6) Section 106(1A) and (2)—\nrenumber as section 106(2) and (3).\n(7) Section 106(4), ‘subsection (3)’—\nomit, insert—\nsubsection (2)\n(8) Section 106—\ninsert—\n(5) Also, for subsection (2), any part of a sentence of\ndetention that a person is serving as a term of\nimprisonment is taken to be attributable to the\nsentence of detention.\n7 Amendment of s 115 (Who must make a declaration vote)\nSection 115(f), after ‘imprisonment’—\ninsert—\nor detention\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\nClause 24\n25\n26\n27\n\nPage 9\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 8]\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Electoral Act 1992\n8 Omission of pt 9 (Commission oversight of preselection\nballots)\nPart 9—\nomit.\n9 Insertion of new s 180A\nBefore section 181—\ninsert—\n180A Definitions for division\nIn this division—\naddress includes—\n(a) a post office box; and\n(b) a form of address prescribed by regulation.\nauthorisation period means—\n(a) for an ordinary general election, the\nperiod—\n(i) beginning on the day that is 1 year\nbefore the polling day for the election;\nand\n(ii) ending at 6p.m. on the polling day for\nthe election; or\n(b) for any other election, the period—\n(i) beginning on the day after the writ for\nthe election is issued; and\n(ii) ending at 6p.m. on the polling day for\nthe election.\n10 Amendment of s 181 (Author of election matter must be\nnamed)\n(1) Section 181(1), ‘election period’—\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\nClause 5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\nClause 26\n27\n28\n\nPage 10\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 11]\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Electoral Act 1992\nomit, insert—\nauthorisation period\n(2) Section 181(2), ‘(other than a post office box)’—\nomit.\n11 Amendment of s 182 (Distribution of how-to-vote cards)\n(1) Section 182(1), ‘election period’—\nomit, insert—\nauthorisation period\n(2) Section 182(3)—\nomit.\n(3) Section 182(5), ‘election period’—\nomit, insert—\nauthorisation period\n(4) Section 182(4) to (6)—\nrenumber as section 182(3) to (5).\n12 Amendment of s 197 (Definitions)\n(1) Section 197, definitions political donation and prohibited\ndonor—\nomit.\n(2) Section 197—\ninsert—\npolitical donation see section 250.\n(3) Section 197, definition loan, ‘a financial institution or’—\nomit.\n1\n2\n3\n4\nClause 5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\nClause 16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n\nPage 11\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 13]\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Electoral Act 1992\n13 Amendment of s 216 (Payments into State campaign\naccount)\n(1) Section 216(2)(d), ‘(other than an amount given to the spouse\nby a prohibited donor)’—\nomit.\n(2) Section 216(4), definition prohibited donor—\nomit.\n14 Replacement of s 247 (Meaning of donation cap period)\nSection 247—\nomit, insert—\n247 Meaning of donation cap period\nThe donation cap period, for a registered political\nparty or candidate in an election, is each financial\nyear.\n15 Amendment of s 253 (Adjustment of donation cap)\n(1) Section 253(1), ‘30 days after the polling day for each general\nelection (the recent general election)’—\nomit, insert—\non 1 July each year\n(2) Section 253(1)(a), after ‘subsection (2)’—\ninsert—\nrounded up to the nearest dollar\n(3) Section 253(2), definition B, ‘that ended before the polling\nday for the recent general election’—\nomit, insert—\nfor which such a number was published before the\nend of the previous financial year\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\nClause 8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\nClause 15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n\nPage 12\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 16]\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Electoral Act 1992\n(4) Section 253(2), definition C, ‘that ended before the polling\nday for the previous general election’—\nomit, insert—\nfor which such a number was published before the\nend of the financial year immediately before the\nprevious financial year\n(5) Section 253(3), ‘as soon as practicable after the amount is\nadjusted under this section’—\nomit, insert—\nbefore the start of each financial year\n(6) Section 253(4), definition previous general election—\nomit.\n16 Amendment of s 255 (Caps on political donations made\nto candidates)\nSection 255, after ‘during a donation cap period for’—\ninsert—\na candidate in\n17 Omission of pt 11, div 8, sdiv 4 (Political donations from\nproperty developers)\nPart 11, division 8, subdivision 4—\nomit.\n18 Omission of s 307A (Offence about prohibited donations)\nSection 307A—\nomit.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\nClause 13\n14\n15\n16\n17\nClause 18\n19\n20\n21\nClause 22\n23\n24\n\nPage 13\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 19]\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Electoral Act 1992\n19 Amendment of s 307B (Schemes to circumvent\nprohibition on particular political donations or electoral\nexpenditure)\n(1) Section 307B, heading, ‘particular’—\nomit.\n(2) Section 307B(1), from ‘to circumvent’ to ‘expenditure’—\nomit, insert—\nto circumvent an offence against this part related\nto making or accepting political donations or\nincurring electoral expenditure\n20 Omission of s 307C (False or misleading information\nrelating to determinations)\nSection 307C—\nomit.\n21 Amendment of s 374 (Right of appeal)\nSection 374, note—\nomit, insert—\nNote—\nInformation notices are given under sections 351 and\n355. See also the Local Government Electoral Act 2011,\nsections 113D(4) and 113E(2).\n22 Amendment of s 385 (Particular offences under this part\nare summary)\nSection 385(1), ‘sections 307A to 307C’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 307B\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\nClause 11\n12\n13\n14\nClause 15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\nClause 22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n\nPage 14\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 23]\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Electoral Act 1992\n23 Insertion of new pt 13, div 13\nPart 13—\ninsert—\nDivision 13 Transitional provisions for\nElectoral Laws (Restoring\nElectoral Fairness)\nAmendment Act 2025\n451 Definitions for division\nIn this division—\namending Act means the Electoral Laws\n(Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Act\n2025.\nformer, for a provision of this Act, means the\nprovision as in force from time to time before the\ncommencement.\nnew, for a provision of this Act, means the\nprovision as in force from the commencement.\n452 Prisoner voting in particular elections\nDespite the amending Act, former sections 64,\n106 and 115 continue to apply to a person in\nrelation to an election for which the writ was\nissued before the commencement.\n453 Election matter etc. for particular elections\nDespite the amending Act, former sections 181\nand 182 continue to apply in relation to election\nmatter and how-to-vote cards for an election for\nwhich the election period started before the\ncommencement.\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0002","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 2","content":"Page 15\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 23]\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Electoral Act 1992\n454 Existing inquiry into preselection ballot\n(1) This section applies to an inquiry into a\npreselection ballot started under former section\n168, but not completed, before the\ncommencement.\n(2) Despite the repeal of former part 9—\n(a) for an inquiry initiated by the commission\nunder former section 168(1)(a), the\ncommission may complete and report on the\ninquiry as if former part 9 were still in force;\nand\n(b) for an inquiry initiated by a complaint under\nformer section 168(1)(b) from a candidate\nor a party member who was eligible to vote\nin the preselection ballot, the commission\nmust complete and report on the inquiry as\nif former part 9 were still in force.\n(3) Despite its repeal, former section 168 applies in\nrelation to an inquiry conducted under this\nsection.\n455 Current audit of preselection ballot\n(1) This section applies if—\n(a) before the commencement, the commission\ngave a notice under former section 172(1) to\nthe registered officer of a political party that\na preselection ballot was to be audited; and\n(b) immediately before the commencement, the\ncommission had not given a report to the\nMinister under former section 172(5)\nidentifying the preselection ballot as having\nbeen examined under former section 172.\n(2) Despite their repeal—\n(a) former section 172 continues to apply in\nrelation to the audit; and\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n\nPage 16\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 23]\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Electoral Act 1992\n(b) former section 173 applies in relation to a\nreport given to the Minister identifying the\npreselection ballot.\n456 Transitional provision for donation cap\nperiods\n(1) For a candidate in a by-election held fewer than\n30 days before the commencement—\n(a) former section 247 applies to the candidate\nin relation to the candidate’s donation cap\nperiod for that election; and\n(b) former part 11, division 6 continues to apply\nin relation to the candidate until the end of\nthat donation cap period.\n(2) For any other candidate in an election and for a\nregistered political party—\n(a) a donation cap period under former section\n247 that had started but not ended before 1\nJuly 2025 is taken for all purposes,\nincluding the application of offence\nprovisions, to have ended on 30 June 2025\nat the end of the day; and\n(b) the candidate’s or party’s first donation cap\nperiod under new section 247 is taken to\nhave started on 1 July 2025; and\n(c) new part 11, division 6 applies in relation to\nthe candidate or party as if it had\ncommenced on 1 July 2025.\n457 Proceedings for particular offences\n(1) This section applies in relation to an offence\nagainst former section 307A, 307B or 307C(1)\ncommitted by a person before the\ncommencement.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n\nPage 17\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 24]\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Electoral Act 1992\n(2) Without limiting the Acts Interpretation Act 1954,\nsection 20, a proceeding for the offence may be\ncontinued or started, and the person may be\nconvicted of and punished for the offence, as if\nthe amending Act had not commenced.\n(3) Subsection (2) applies despite the Criminal Code,\nsection 11.\n458 Recovery of particular donations\n(1) This section applies in relation to a political\ndonation that was unlawfully accepted under\nformer section 275 before the commencement.\n(2) Former section 276 continues to apply in relation\nto the person who accepted the donation, as if\nsection 17 of the amending Act had not\ncommenced.\n(3) For the purpose of this section, former part 11,\ndivision 8, subdivision 4 continues to apply as if\nsection 17 of the amending Act had not\ncommenced.\n459 Register of determinations\n(1) Former section 279 continues to apply in relation\nto determinations made under former section 277\nbefore the commencement and in relation to\nrevocations made under former section 278\nbefore the commencement.\n(2) This section expires on 1 July 2029.\n24 Amendment of sch 1 (Dictionary)\n(1) Schedule 1, definitions political donation and prohibited\ndonor—\nomit.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\nClause 27\n28\n29\n30\n\nPage 18\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 25]\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Local Government Electoral Act 2011\n(2) Schedule 1—\ninsert—\naddress, for part 10, division 2, see section 180A.\nauthorisation period, for part 10, division 2, see\nsection 180A.\npolitical donation see section 250.\nPart 3 Amendment of Local\nGovernment Electoral Act 2011\n25 Act amended\nThis part amends the Local Government Electoral Act 2011.\n26 Insertion of new s 16A\nBefore section 17—\ninsert—\n16A Definition for division\nIn this division—\nenrolled to vote, at an election, means enrolled on\nan electoral roll for an electoral district, or part of\nan electoral district, included—\n(a) for an election for all of a local\ngovernment’s area—in the area; or\n(b) for an election for a division of a local\ngovernment’s area—in the division.\n27 Amendment of s 17 (Returning officer must compile\nvoters roll)\n(1) Section 17(1), ‘entitled’—\nomit, insert—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\nClause 9\n10\nClause 11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\nClause 23\n24\n25\n26\n\nPage 19\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 28]\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Local Government Electoral Act 2011\nenrolled\n(2) Section 17(2)—\nomit.\n(3) Section 17(3), after ‘returning officer the’—\ninsert—\ninformation and\n(4) Section 17(3)—\nrenumber as section 17(2).\n28 Insertion of new s 17A\nAfter section 17—\ninsert—\n17A Information about persons serving sentences\nof imprisonment or detention\n(1) To enable a returning officer to decide the persons\nwho are not entitled to vote because of section\n64(2), the returning officer may ask—\n(a) the chief executive (corrective services) to\ngive the returning officer information about\npersons who are serving sentences or terms\nof imprisonment for offences against the\nlaw of the Commonwealth or of a State or\nTerritory; or\n(b) the chief executive (youth justice) to give\nthe returning officer information about\npersons aged at least 18 years who—\n(i) are serving a sentence of detention; or\n(ii) were serving a sentence of detention of\n1 year or longer and have been\ntransferred to serve the sentence as a\nterm of imprisonment.\n(2) The chief executive must give the returning\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\nClause 9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n\nPage 20\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 29]\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Local Government Electoral Act 2011\nofficer the information as soon as practicable after\nreceiving the request.\n(3) Also, if an electoral registrar has received\ninformation under the Electoral Act 1992, section\n58(8), it may be provided to the returning officer.\n29 Amendment of s 19 (Requirements of voters roll)\nSection 19(1)(a), ‘entitled’—\nomit, insert—\nenrolled\n30 Replacement of s 64 (Who may vote)\nSection 64—\nomit, insert—\n64 Who may vote\n(1) The following persons are the only persons\nentitled to vote at an election—\n(a) persons on the voters roll;\n(b) persons who are not on the voters roll but\nare entitled under the Electoral Act 1992,\nsection 64(1)(a)(ii) to be enrolled to vote at\nthe election;\n(c) persons who are not on the voters roll\nbecause of an official error;\n(d) persons who—\n(i) are not on the voters roll but are\nentitled, under the Electoral Act 1992,\nto be enrolled on the electoral roll for\nthe electoral district in which the area\nor division is situated; and\n(ii) after the cut-off day for the voters roll\nand no later than 6p.m. on the day\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\nClause 6\n7\n8\n9\nClause 10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n\nPage 21\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 31]\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Local Government Electoral Act 2011\nbefore the polling day, give the\nelectoral commission a notice under\nthe Electoral Act 1992, section 65.\n(2) However, a person who is serving a sentence of\nimprisonment or detention of 1 year or longer is\nnot entitled to vote at an election.\n(3) Also, a person is not entitled to vote—\n(a) more than once at the same election; or\n(b) at 2 or more divisions of the same local\ngovernment area.\n31 Amendment of s 69 (Who must complete a declaration\nenvelope)\n(1) Section 69, after ‘imprisonment’—\ninsert—\nor detention\n(2) Section 69(1)—\ninsert—\n(h) section 64(1)(b) or (d) applies to the elector.\n32 Amendment of s 106 (Definitions for part)\nSection 106—\ninsert—\nrestricted donation means a gift or loan that—\n(a) is made by a prohibited donor to a political\nparty; and\n(b) is accompanied by a restricted donation\nstatement.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\nClause 11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\nClause 19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n\nPage 22\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 33]\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Local Government Electoral Act 2011\n33 Amendment of s 113A (Meaning of political donation)\nSection 113A(1)(a)(i), after ‘party’—\ninsert—\n, other than a restricted donation\n34 Insertion of new s 113AB\nAfter section 113A—\ninsert—\n113AB Meaning of restricted donation statement\n(1) A restricted donation statement about a gift or\nloan is a statement about the gift or loan that\ncomplies with this section.\n(2) A restricted donation statement about a gift or\nloan must—\n(a) be in writing; and\n(b) be made by the donor of the gift or loan; and\n(c) state the relevant particulars of the entity\nthat is the donor of the gift or loan; and\n(d) state that the gift or loan is made with the\nintention that it is not used for an electoral\npurpose; and\n(e) be given to the recipient when the gift or\nloan is made.\n(3) In this section—\nrelevant particulars, of an entity, see the\nElectoral Act 1992, section 197.\n35 Insertion of new s 113BA\nAfter section 113B—\ninsert—\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\nClause 5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\nClause 26\n27\n28\n\nPage 23\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 36]\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Local Government Electoral Act 2011\n113BA Use of restricted donations\nIt is unlawful for a person to use a restricted\ndonation made by a prohibited donor for an\nelectoral purpose.\n36 Amendment of s 113C (Recovery of prohibited donations)\n(1) Section 113C, heading, after ‘prohibited donations’—\ninsert—\nand amounts used unlawfully\n(2) Section 113C—\ninsert—\n(1A) If a person uses a restricted donation for an\nelectoral purpose, an amount equal to twice the\namount or value of the restricted donation is\npayable by the person to the State.\n37 Amendment of s 113D (Making of determination that\nentity is not a prohibited donor)\nSection 113D(4)—\ninsert—\nNote—\nFor the right to appeal against the decision, see section\n113G.\n38 Amendment of s 113E (Revocation of determination)\nSection 113E(2)—\ninsert—\nNote—\nFor the right to appeal against the decision, see section\n113G.\n1\n2\n3\n4\nClause 5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\nClause 15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\nClause 22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n\nPage 24\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 39]\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Local Government Electoral Act 2011\n39 Amendment of s 113G (Review of decisions)\nSection 113G, ‘section 277(4)(b) or 278(2)’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 374\n40 Amendment of s 127AA (Requirement for registered\npolitical party to operate dedicated account)\n(1) Section 127AA—\ninsert—\n(4A) A restricted donation received by the political\nparty must not be paid into the account.\n(2) Section 127AA(6), ‘subsection (5)’—\nomit, insert—\nsubsection (6)\n(3) Section 127AA(7), ‘subsections (2) to (6)’—\nomit, insert—\nsubsections (2) to (7)\n(4) Section 127AA(7), penalty, ‘subsection (7)’—\nomit, insert—\nsubsection (8)\n(5) Section 127AA(4A) to (7)—\nrenumber as section 127AA(5) to (8).\n41 Amendment of s 194A (Offence about prohibited\ndonations)\nSection 194A(1), from ‘section 113B’ to ‘unlawful under that\nsection’—\nomit, insert—\nsection 113B or 113BA if the person knows or\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\nClause 5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\nClause 22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n\nPage 25\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 42]\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Local Government Electoral Act 2011\nought reasonably to know of the facts that result\nin the act or omission being unlawful under either\nof those sections.\n42 Amendment of s 205 (Persons serving a sentence of\nimprisonment)\n(1) Section 205, heading, after ‘imprisonment’—\ninsert—\nor detention\n(2) Section 205, after ‘imprisonment’—\ninsert—\nor detention\n(3) Section 205—\ninsert—\n(2) Also, for this Act, any part of a sentence of\ndetention that a person is serving as a term of\nimprisonment is taken to be attributable to the\nsentence of detention.\n43 Insertion of new pt 11, div 7\nPart 11—\ninsert—\nDivision 7 Transitional provisions for\nElectoral Laws (Restoring\nElectoral Fairness)\nAmendment Act 2025\n238 Definitions for division\nIn this division—\namending Act means the Electoral Laws\n1\n2\n3\nClause 4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\nClause 18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n\nPage 26\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 43]\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Local Government Electoral Act 2011\n(Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Act\n2025.\nformer, for a provision of this Act, means the\nprovision as in force from time to time before the\ncommencement.\n239 Prisoner voting in particular elections\nDespite the amending Act, former sections 17, 19,\n64 and 69 continue to apply to a person in relation\nto an election for which public notice was given\nunder section 25(1) before the commencement.\n240 Recovery of particular donations\n(1) This section applies in relation to a political\ndonation that was unlawfully accepted under\nformer section 113B before the commencement.\n(2) Former section 113C continues to apply in\nrelation to the person who accepted the donation,\nas if section 41 of the amending Act had not\ncommenced.\n(3) For the purpose of this section, former part 6,\ndivision 1A continues to apply as if the\namendments of that division made by the\namending Act had not commenced.\n241 Proceedings for particular offences\n(1) This section applies in relation to an offence\nagainst former section 194A or 194B committed\nby a person before the commencement.\n(2) Without limiting the Acts Interpretation Act 1954,\nsection 20, a proceeding for the offence may be\ncontinued or started, and the person may be\nconvicted of and punished for the offence, as if\nthe amending Act had not commenced.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n\nPage 27\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 44]\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Referendums Act 1997\n(3) Subsection (2) applies despite the Criminal Code,\nsection 11.\n44 Amendment of sch 2 (Dictionary)\nSchedule 2—\ninsert—\nrestricted donation, for part 6, see section 106.\nrestricted donation statement see section 113AB.\nPart 4 Amendment of Referendums\nAct 1997\n45 Act amended\nThis part amends the Referendums Act 1997.\n46 Amendment of s 21 (Who may vote)\n(1) Section 21(2), ‘A person’—\nomit, insert—\nAlso, a person\n(2) Section 21(3), ‘Also,’—\nomit, insert—\nHowever,\n(3) Section 21(3) and (4), after ‘imprisonment’—\ninsert—\nor detention\n(4) Section 21(3), ‘3 years’—\nomit, insert—\n1 year\n1\n2\nClause 3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\nClause 10\n11\nClause 12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n\nPage 28\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 46]\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Referendums Act 1997\n(5) Section 21(3)—\nrelocate and renumber as section 21(1A).\n(6) Section 21(1A) and (2)—\nrenumber as section 21(2) and (3).\n(7) Section 21(4), ‘subsection (3)’—\nomit, insert—\nsubsection (2)\n(8) Section 21—\ninsert—\n(4A) Also, for subsection (2), any part of a sentence of\ndetention that a person is serving as a term of\nimprisonment is taken to be attributable to the\nsentence of detention.\n(9) Section 21(5)—\nomit, insert—\n(5) To enable the commission to decide the persons\nwho are not entitled to vote because of subsection\n(2), the commission may ask—\n(a) the chief executive (corrective services) to\ngive the commission information about\npersons who are serving sentences or terms\nof imprisonment for offences against a law\nof the Commonwealth or of a State or\nTerritory; or\n(b) the chief executive (youth justice) to give\nthe commission information about persons\naged at least 18 years who—\n(i) are serving a sentence of detention; or\n(ii) were serving a sentence of detention of\n1 year or longer and have been\ntransferred to serve the sentence as a\nterm of imprisonment.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0003","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 3","content":"Page 29\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 47]\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 4 Amendment of Referendums Act 1997\n(10) Section 21(6) and (7), ‘(corrective services)’—\nomit.\n(11) Section 21(7), ‘Subsection (6)’—\nomit, insert—\nSubsection (7)\n(12) Section 21(4A) to (7)—\nrenumber as section 21(5) to (8).\n47 Amendment of s 26 (Who must make a declaration vote)\nSection 26(f), after ‘imprisonment’—\ninsert—\nor detention\n48 Insertion of new pt 9, div 3\nPart 9—\ninsert—\nDivision 3 Transitional provision for\nElectoral Laws (Restoring\nElectoral Fairness)\nAmendment Act 2025\n103 Voting in particular referendums\n(1) Despite the amending Act, former sections 21 and\n26 continue to apply to a person in relation to a\nreferendum for which the writ was issued before\nthe commencement.\n(2) In this section—\namending Act means the Electoral Laws\n(Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Act\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\nClause 8\n9\n10\n11\nClause 12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n\nPage 30\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 49]\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 5 Other amendments\n2025.\nformer, for a provision of this Act, means the\nprovision as in force from time to time before the\ncommencement.\nPart 5 Other amendments\n49 Legislation amended\nSchedule 1 amends the legislation it mentions.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\nClause 6\n7\n\nSchedule 1\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 31\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nSchedule 1 Other amendments\nsection 49\nCity of Brisbane Act 2010\n1 Schedule 1, part 1, under heading ‘Electoral Act’, entry\nfor 307B(1), column 2, ‘particular’—\nomit.\n2 Schedule 1, part 2, under heading ‘Electoral Act’, entries\nfor 307A(1) and 307C(1)—\nomit.\nElectoral Regulation 2024\n1 Section 32—\nomit.\n2 Schedule 1—\nomit.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n\nSchedule 1\nElectoral Laws (Restoring Electoral Fairness) Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 32\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nLocal Government Act 2009\n1 Schedule 1, part 1, under heading ‘Electoral Act’, entry\nfor 307B(1), column 2, ‘particular’—\nomit.\n2 Schedule 1, part 2, under heading ‘Electoral Act’, entries\nfor 307A(1) and 307C(1)—\nomit.\n© State of Queensland 2025\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7","sortOrder":2}],"analysis":{"summary":{"status_summary":"This bill received royal assent and its provisions commence either on a day to be fixed by proclamation or 28 days after assent, depending on the section.","complexity_score":7,"likely_questions":["From what date will the new prisoner voting thresholds apply to state and local government elections?","Can property developers now make unlimited donations to political parties?","What happens to donations received before the bill commenced that were prohibited under the old law?","How does the new 'restricted donation' regime work for local government elections and what are the penalties for misuse?","Will the Electoral Commission continue to audit preselection ballots that were already underway when the bill commenced?"],"complexity_factors":["Multiple principal acts amended (Electoral Act 1992, Local Government Electoral Act 2011, Referendums Act 1997, City of Brisbane Act 2010, Local Government Act 2009, Electoral Regulation 2024)","Staggered commencement: some provisions by proclamation, others 28 days after assent","Extensive transitional provisions preserving old rules for pending elections, inquiries, audits, offences, and donation recovery","Introduction of new legal concepts such as 'restricted donation' and 'restricted donation statement' with specific compliance requirements","Changes to definitions and cross-references across multiple acts and schedules"],"plain_english_summary":"The Bill narrows prisoner voting disqualifications (reducing the threshold to 1 year, including youth detention), removes the Electoral Commission of Queensland's oversight of party preselections, and relaxes donation rules (removing the property‑developer ban, shifting donation caps to each financial year indexed to CPI, and creating a “restricted donation” mechanism for local government). It also lengthens the authorisation period for election materials and relaxes address requirements.\n\nIt affects prisoners, political parties, donors (notably developers), candidates and electoral regulators — changing who can vote, who can fund campaigns, and how campaign material is authorised."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Bill goes beyond a single narrow reform and bundles several distinct changes: it simultaneously (1) narrows prisoner/detainee voting rights and adds inter-agency data sharing to enforce that change; (2) removes the Commission’s preselection oversight and permits parties greater internal autonomy; (3) restructures donation timing and indexing, removes a categorical ban on property-developer donations in the State Act, and creates a new restricted-donation mechanism and doubled-recovery penalty at the local-government level. Those additions broaden the Bill from a focused change (for example, solely adjusting prisoner voting or only adjusting donation caps) into a multi‑area reform package touching voting eligibility, party internal governance, disclosure/authorisation timing, and political finance regimes across State and local law."},"complexity_factors":["Amends three principal Acts (Electoral Act 1992; Local Government Electoral Act 2011; Referendums Act 1997) plus multiple regulations and other Acts in schedule 1","Introduces new defined term 'authorisation period' with differing start rules for general vs other elections (new Electoral Act s180A)","Reduces voting-disqualification threshold and adds cross‑Act changes (prisoner/detention rules altered in all three Acts) with data‑sharing provisions (Electoral Act s58(8); Local Gov Act s17A; Referendums Act s21(5))","Repeals an entire oversight regime (omits Electoral Act Part 9) while providing detailed transitional provisions for ongoing inquiries/audits (Electoral Act ss454–455)","Restructures donation law: replaces donation-cap period with financial-year system (new s247), shifts indexing/adjustment date (s253), and removes special prohibitions (property developer ban omitted and s307A removed)","Adds a new 'restricted donation' regime at local government level with new offences/penalties (Local Gov Act ss113AB, 113BA, 113C(1A), 127AA), creating parallel state/local rules","Extensive renumbering and redrafting (multiple renumberings in s106 and s21) increasing cross-reference complexity","Transitional provisions across Acts that create a temporary mixed regime for ongoing elections, prosecutions and donation recoveries (Electoral Act div13 ss451–459; Local Gov Act div7 ss238–241; Referendums Act div3 s103)","Removal and relocation of several definitions (e.g., 'political donation', 'prohibited donor') with references moved to other sections (Electoral Act s197 changes; schedule amendments)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this Bill changes (mechanically)\n\n- Expands the electoral roll check powers so the Electoral Commission and local returning officers can ask corrective services and youth justice for information about people serving sentences of imprisonment or detention (Electoral Act s58(8); Local Gov Act s17A; Referendums Act s21(5)).\n\n- Lowers the sentence threshold that disqualifies a person from voting from 3 years to 1 year, and makes time served as detention count when served as part of an imprisonment term (Electoral Act s106 as amended; Referendums Act s21; Local Gov Act s64). It also inserts transitional rules so the old rules continue to apply for elections whose writs or publication started before commencement (new transitional divisions: Electoral Act pt 13 div 13; Local Gov Act pt 11 div 7; Referendums Act pt 9 div 3).\n\n- Repeals the Commission’s oversight regime for internal political party preselection ballots (omits Electoral Act Part 9) but lets already-started inquiries and audits finish under the old rules (transitional provisions: Electoral Act ss454–455).\n\n- Replaces the term \"election period\" for author-identification and distribution of how-to-vote cards with a new, longer-defined \"authorisation period\" that can run from 1 year before a general election to polling day (new Electoral Act s180A; amendments to ss181–182).\n\n- Changes how donation limits are measured: moves the donation cap period to each financial year and makes the cap indexed/adjusted on 1 July each year (Electoral Act s247 replaced; s253 amended).\n\n- Removes the statutory ban and related offence provisions that previously treated property developers (and related prohibited-donor rules) as a special prohibited donor category in the State Act (omits part 11 div 8 sdiv 4; omits s307A; cleans up associated references; ss17–22). Existing prosecutions and recovery actions under the old provisions can continue (transitional ss456–459).\n\n- In the local government sphere, creates a new concept of a \"restricted donation\": a gift or loan from a prohibited donor accompanied by a written statement that it is not to be used for electoral purposes; such donations are excluded from the ordinary definition of \"political donation\" (Local Gov Act ss106, 113A, 113AB). Using a restricted donation for electoral purposes triggers a civil financial penalty equal to twice the donation (new Local Gov Act s113C(1A)) and it is unlawful to pay a restricted donation into a party's dedicated account (s127AA(4A) / (5)). Criminal liability for accepting prohibited donations is kept but framed on a knowledge/reasonable-knowledge standard (s194A).\n\n- Miscellaneous drafting and cross‑reference changes (dictionary edits, appeal cross-references, schedule amendments to the Electoral Regulation and other Acts).\n\nWho this affects and how it matters (plain lines of effect)\n\n- People in custody: People serving a sentence of imprisonment or detention of 1 year or more become ineligible to vote (Electoral Act s106(3) as amended; Local Gov Act s64(2); Referendums Act s21(2)). Electoral authorities will rely on information from corrective services and youth justice to enforce this (Electoral Act s58(8); Local Gov Act s17A; Referendums Act s21(5)). The Bill also counts any detention time that is being served as part of an imprisonment sentence toward that threshold (Electoral Act s106(5)).\n\n- Political parties and candidates (state and local):\n  - Must comply with a new timing regime for donation caps (cap period = financial year; cap adjustment on 1 July) (Electoral Act ss247, 253). This changes when limits refresh and when reporting/alignment with financial statements will occur.\n  - At local government level, parties and candidates must segregate or refuse to treat \"restricted donations\" as political donations and must not put such donations into the required dedicated account (Local Gov Act ss113A, 113AB, 127AA). If a restricted donation is used for electoral purposes, the recipient faces a monetary recovery obligation equal to twice the amount (s113C(1A)).\n\n- Registered political parties: lose an avenue of external oversight over their internal preselections because the Commission’s Part 9 oversight is removed (Electoral Act — omission of Part 9). Parties regain greater autonomy over internal preselection processes; outstanding audits/inquiries continue under the old law (Electoral Act ss454–455).\n\n- Third parties who publish election material: author-identification and how-to-vote distribution rules now run over a longer \"authorisation period\" (which can be a year long for general elections) — they must identify the author during that expanded period (new Electoral Act s180A; amended ss181–182).\n\nStated purpose-claims and practical tests against costs, incentives and trade-offs\n\n- The Bill’s title and provisions indicate two broad aims: (a) change rules about prisoner/detainee voting, and (b) reform donation and electoral-authority oversight settings. The mechanics above implement those aims.\n\n- Cost and compliance trade-offs:\n  - Administrative cost and implementation risk: Electoral and corrective services agencies must exchange and reconcile custodial lists (Electoral Act s58(8); Local Gov Act s17A; Referendums Act s21(5)). That requires secure data sharing, timely updates before elections, and processes for correcting errors that could wrongly remove eligible voters or allow ineligible votes. The Bill includes transitional protections for recently-started elections, but operational burdens remain.\n  - Voter impact (who pays): The direct effect is fewer eligible voters (people serving ≥1 year sentences). That is a concentrated effect on a specific cohort; diffuse costs include potential legal challenges or administrative appeals arising from misclassification.\n  - Political finance effects: Moving donation cap periods to the financial year changes timing incentives for donations and reporting (Electoral Act ss247, 253). Removing the statutory ban on property developer donations at state level (omission of subdivision and s307A) reduces categorical prohibitions and thus changes incentives for donor-party interactions; the State Act no longer carries that explicit prohibition, though local government regimes retain stricter controls via the \"restricted donation\" mechanism (Local Gov Act ss113AB–113BA, 127AA). The Bill creates a compliance tool (restricted-donation statements) at the local level rather than an absolute ban.\n  - Oversight trade-offs: Removing Commission oversight of party preselections reduces an external compliance cost for parties but shifts responsibility for preselection integrity back to parties. That changes who decides internal contest procedures and who bears the cost of disputes (Electoral Act omission of Part 9; transitional ss454–455 permit completion of pre-existing processes).\n\n- Enforcement and sanction mechanisms: The Bill replaces some criminal offences (it omits s307A) and keeps or creates monetary recovery/penalty mechanisms (e.g., double repayment in Local Gov Act s113C(1A); continuing criminal liability under s194A subject to knowledge standard). That shifts some potential enforcement from criminal prohibitions to civil financial remedies and statutory reporting/segregation obligations.\n\nImplementation and compliance issues to watch\n\n- Data sharing logistics and accuracy: timing of information exchange from corrective services/youth justice to electoral authorities matters for roll finalisation and dispute handling (Electoral Act s58(8); Local Gov Act s17A).\n\n- How the removal of the developer ban in the State Act interacts with other funding transparency rules and with the local-government restricted-donation regime; possible substitution effects (donors redirecting funds or using intermediaries) will depend on how \"political donation\" and related definitions are implemented in subordinate provisions (Electoral Act s197 changes; Local Gov Act ss113AB–113BA).\n\n- Transitional complexity: the Bill preserves old rules for elections already underway and for ongoing inquiries/proceedings (see transitional divisions in each Act). That creates a mixed legal regime during the transition which parties, candidates, and agencies must track.\n\nKey provisions cited (representative)\n\n- Prisoner/detention voting and data sharing: Electoral Act s58(8) (amended), s106 (amended); Local Gov Act s17A, s64; Referendums Act s21.\n- Omission of Commission oversight of preselections: omission of Electoral Act Part 9; transitional Electoral Act ss454–455.\n- Authorisation period and author labelling/how-to-vote rules: new Electoral Act s180A; amended ss181–182.\n- Donation cap period and adjustment: replacement Electoral Act s247; s253 amended.\n- Removal of property developer prohibition & related offences: omission of Part 11 div 8 sdiv 4; omission of s307A; amendment of s307B and related cleanup (Electoral Act ss17–22).\n- Local government restricted-donation regime and penalties: Local Gov Act ss106 (new definition), 113A, 113AB, 113BA, 113C(1A), 127AA(4A) and s194A (knowledge standard).\n\nOverall framing (neutral): the Bill changes who is entitled to vote (narrows prisoner/detainee franchise), lengthens and clarifies authorisation/disclosure timing for election material, alters the timing and measurement of donation caps, removes a prior categorical ban on developer donations at State level while creating a written \"restricted donation\" mechanism and civil penalties at the local-government level, and removes an external oversight power over party preselections. Those are mechanical rule changes that reallocate decision-making authority (more to agencies and parties in different ways), change compliance timing and costs, and introduce mixed enforcement tools (criminal/knowledge standards, civil recovery/penalty amounts)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/electoral-laws-restoring-electoral-fairness-amendment-bill-2025","history":"/api/acts/electoral-laws-restoring-electoral-fairness-amendment-bill-2025/history","analysis":"/api/acts/electoral-laws-restoring-electoral-fairness-amendment-bill-2025/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/electoral-laws-restoring-electoral-fairness-amendment-bill-2025/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/electoral-laws-restoring-electoral-fairness-amendment-bill-2025/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/electoral-laws-restoring-electoral-fairness-amendment-bill-2025/documents"}}