Overview
- The High Court, which ruled unanimously Wednesday, invalidated Part 12 of Victoria’s Electoral Act that set the cap on individual donations and created the “nominated entity” exemption.
- The decision removes the roughly $5,000 cap on individual gifts, clearing the way for larger donations before the November state election.
- Under the struck scheme, only Liberal, Labor and the Nationals used pre‑registered fundraising bodies to move money outside the cap, with reports of millions flowing from entities such as the Cormack Foundation and Labor Services & Holding.
- The challenge was brought by independents Paul Hopper and Melissa Lowe, after the court found the 1 July 2020 cutoff for registering a nominated entity unfairly shut out newcomers.
- The ruling is likely to echo nationally as former federal independents Zoe Daniel and Rex Patrick prepare a similar challenge to Commonwealth campaign‑finance rules.