AECMedia

Changes to electoral laws

Updated: 21 February 2025

New electoral reforms have recently been passed by the Australian Parliament. 

The Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Reform) Act 2025 received Royal Assent on, Thursday 20 February 2025. The amendments cover the following two areas:

  • the Commonwealth funding and disclosure scheme 
  • Electoral process (machinery) amendments. 

Financial disclosure reforms: 2026 commencement 

Australia’s electoral funding and disclosure scheme will be significantly reformed with the reduction of the disclosure threshold to $5,000, the introduction of expedited donation disclosures as well as donation caps and expenditure caps.

These reforms will commence on 1 July 2026, meaning they will not be in effect for the 2025 federal election.

Acting Electoral Commissioner Jeff Pope said that the legislative amendments are substantial – the largest in nearly 40 years for funding and disclosure. 

“The implementation of these reforms is very significant for the AEC – we're undertaking extensive preparation for changes to our processes, resourcing, tools and systems to successfully deliver the changes,” Mr Pope said.

Process improvements for the 2025 federal election 

The machinery amendments are legislative changes that assist the AEC in the modernisation of electoral processes.

Mr Pope said that these amendments provide improvements for both the AEC in administering the election, and for voters. These changes will be in place for the 2025 federal election.

"These changes include improvements for voters with a disability and strengthening the appropriate regulation of conduct at polling places," Mr Pope said.

Specific examples include: 

  • A change to the terminology of ‘unsound mind’, which many have found an offensive term, to more contemporary language
  • Expressly expanding the grounds for pre-poll and postal voting to people with a disability and their carers
  • Prohibition of filming inside a polling place without permission.

“Work is underway on the implementation of these and other changes that support a modernised electoral process in preparation for the 2025 federal election,” said Mr Pope.

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