Queensland parliament has passed new laws that cap how much political parties can spend to garner voters ahead of the October state election.
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Limits on campaign spending will come into force within weeks after state parliament passed a suite of electoral and integrity laws on Thursday.
Some of the changes take effect just in time for this year's state election including spending limits of $57,000 for candidates endorsed by political parties. Independents will be able to spend up to $87,000.
In addition, political parties face a spending cap of $92,000 per seat.
Third-party organisations such as unions and industry bodies will be limited to $87,000 per electorate, with an overall cap of $1 million.
But new caps on donations to candidates or political parties won't take effect until 2022.
The legislation also includes consequences for ministers who fail to disclose a conflict of interest to cabinet, or fail to maintain their register of interests.
Such acts could land a minister in prison for up to two years and force them from office.
Australian Associated Press
