Labor stranded again as electoral reform talks break down
Labor is stranded on electoral reforms after talks with the Coalition stalled, with angry crossbenchers insisting the bill is too far gone to support.
Labor has delayed its controversial electoral reforms until at least next year after talks with the Coalition broke down at the eleventh hour.
And its other path to passing the bill appears closed, after its approach for months alienated the crossbenchers it could now need.
Last month, Special Minister of State Don Farrell unveiled “once-in-a-generation” changes to Australia’s election system. The package includes caps on individual donations and candidate spending, along with more transparent disclosures.
Sources close to negotiations were confident a deal would be struck on Wednesday morning, but talks stalled that evening, with two major parties at odds over spending caps for candidates.
