Independent Candidates Can Get Public Money Early for Election Costs
Electoral Funding Amendment (Advance Payments) Bill 2026
Independent BillLegislative Assembly
Legislative Council
Assent
Topics
campaign finance election funding elections electoral expenditure government funding independent candidates public funding
Introduced by: Joe McGirr MP (IND)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
Jenny Aitchison ALP
“On behalf of the Government, I contribute to debate on the Electoral Funding Amendment (Advance Payments) Bill 2026. The bill was introduced in this House by the member for Wagga Wagga and read for a second time on 25 June 2026.”
Adam Crouch LIB
“On behalf of the Opposition, I contribute to debate on the Electoral Funding Amendment (Advance Payments) Bill 2026. From the outset, I acknowledge the work of the member for Wagga Wagga, as outlined in his second reading speech. This bill should have been brought on by the Government. Electoral funding reform is normally done in a bipartisan way between the Government and the Opposition.”
Alex Greenwich IND
“I contribute to debate on the Electoral Funding Amendment (Advance Payments) Bill 2026. The member for Terrigal may want to seek better counsel for a number of the points in his contribution. However, I acknowledge that the shadow Special Minister of State was meant to give that speech but handed it to the member for Terrigal instead. A number of severe inaccuracies are in it.”
Kobi Shetty GRN
“I speak briefly on behalf of The Greens in debate on the Electoral Funding Amendment (Advance Payments) Bill 2026. When it comes to election funding, we want to make sure that things are fair. A great deal of funding enables the major political parties and the smaller ones to run in elections and contest their electorates.”
Joe McGirr IND
“I thank the Minister for her support for the bill on behalf of the Government. As she acknowledged, Independents play a vital role in the Parliament. The bill goes a small way to fulfilling what the Parliament was called on to do in a motion that was agreed to unanimously.”
News articles and press releases
Electoral Funding Amendment (Advance Payments) Bill 2026
Dr JOE McGIRR, Member for Wagga Wagga — 2026-06-25
I note that the bill relates to advance funding. I acknowledge that Independent candidates have access to funds from the Electoral Commission to a similar degree as the parties, but Independent candidates have to find the funds first and are only able to claim reimbursements. Parties do not have to go through the process of fundraising for those funds. They can ask for an advance payment, which, of course, they then have to account for. That creates a natural advantage for parties. The bill says that elected Independents should have access to the same capacity to receive advance funding as parties. The bill does not change the accounting and repayment obligations for those funds, but it does provide the capacity to have an advance of those payments.