In this interim report, the Committee considers a number of matters pertaining to the 2022 federal election, including reforms to donation laws and the funding of elections, truth in political advertising laws, and encouraging increased electoral participation and lifting enfranchisement of First Nations People.

This paper examines the entitlements of federal parliamentarians, to illustrate the scale of the advantages of political incumbency that should be taken into account in the design and implementation of any campaign finance reforms.

This article critically analyses the legal accountability mechanisms for grants funding through public finance legislation, ‘soft law’ such as grants, guidelines and ministerial standards, and the availability of legal redress. It also examines political accountability mechanisms, including the operation of parliamentary committees, the Auditor-General and the Ombudsman.

This paper summarises the 2022 Victorian election and outcomes. It provides an overview of the 59th Parliament and election lead-up, including COVID-19 politics, leadership and integrity issues, retirements and pre-selections, and flood and cost-of-living crises – all of which shaped the election and the changes in the composition of the 60th Parliament.

Political parties cannot operate without income and, as a consequence, matters of political finance are of great importance to the quality of democracy. This paper explores the challenges to the current regulatory system for political finance in greater depth. It also discusses how the system may need to develop to deal with those challenges.