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Committee’s report

The committee tabled its report on Friday, 24 February 2023. The Bill was passed with amendment on 18 April 2023.

About the bill 

On 1 December 2022 the Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympics Infrastructure introduced the bill into the Queensland Parliament.  The Bill was referred to the State Development and Regional Industries Committee for detailed consideration and report by 24 February 2023.  

The purpose of the Bill is to implement an electoral expenditure caps scheme for Queensland local governments. 

Key features of the scheme include:

• local government electoral expenditure caps for:
  • councillor and mayoral candidates
  • groups of candidates
  • registered political parties that endorse a candidate in an election
  • third parties (registered and unregistered)
• the Electoral Commission of Queensland to decide and publish enrolment numbers for local government areas and divisions and the corresponding caps
• prescription of certain offences as integrity or serious integrity offences under the Local Government Act and City of Brisbane Act.

The expenditure cap scheme being proposed for local government elections is similar to the laws that are already in place for Queensland state elections.

View: Explanatory speech
View: Bill 
View: Explanatory Notes
View: Statement of compatibility

PUBLIC BRIEFING

The committee held a public briefing on the Bill with officers from the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning on 14 December 2022.

Timeline