An attempt by the Liberals to insert a potential legal time bomb into the electoral reform legislation and a Labor proposal that would give the ACTU a generous donation cap were main reasons an expected bipartisan deal on the bill imploded at the last moment this week.
Under a “purpose of bill” provision pressed by the Liberals, if there were a successful High Court challenge to part of the legislation, the whole package of reforms would be wiped out.
In the negotiations this week, the Liberals again pushed for the caps on donations and disclosure to be raised.
