Victorian politics still exposed to ‘dark money’ and foreign donations as MPs struggle to agree on urgent reforms

“Unlimited dark money” will keep flooding into Victorian politics after Labor failed to reach agreement with the Liberals or the Greens about donation reforms the Allan government vowed to fast-track through parliament. Victoria is now without caps on political donations or disclosure requirements, months out from the November election after the high court struck down the state’s donation laws last month . Under the previous laws, individuals and organisations could donate a maximum of $4,970 to a candidate, though there was an exemption for money transferred to registered political parties via their “nominated entities”. While the high court challenge centred on that exemption, it ultimately found the entire section of the electoral act governing political donations was unconstitutional. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email The ruling has left the Victorian Electoral Commission unable to distribute the latest round of public funding and opened the door to large donations, including from foreign sources. The day of the ruling, the premier, Jacinta Allan , said the government would “immediately move to restore Victoria’s electoral integrity regime”, warning the state had been left “exposed to dark money in politics.” She said the reforms would also be fast-tracked through parliament and backdated to the date of the decision. …