Labor and Coalition accused of cooking up ‘secret deal’ to rig electoral rules with new bill

Independent senator David Pocock ‘deeply concerned’ legislation designed to cap donations and electoral spending would lock out community independents

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Independents have accused the Albanese government of attempting to “rig” electoral rules in a “major party stitch-up” designed to reduce the chances of a hung parliament.

On Friday the special minister of state, Don Farrell, announced details of Labor’s electoral reform bill including raising public funding to $5 per vote, a $20,000 cap on individual donations and an $800,000 cap on spending per electorate.