In short:
West Party founder Paul Hopper has accused the Allan Government of protecting a “rigged” political donation system as he pushes ahead with a High Court challenge over the laws. The dispute has major implications for voters in Werribee and across Melbourne’s west, where dissatisfaction with the major parties has been steadily rising.
Election Integrity in Question
West Party founder Paul Hopper has launched a blistering attack on the Allan Government’s proposed political donation reforms, accusing it of trying to preserve a “rigged” system that disadvantages independents and emerging parties.
Hopper — who ran as an independent in both the 2022 State Election and the recent Werribee by-election — says the Premier’s amendments fail to deal with the structural imbalance created by Victoria’s donation caps.
“You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig,” Hopper said. “The Premier’s proposed changes won’t make the system fair or equitable. What we have is a rigged system that gives huge advantages to the major parties, while smaller parties are forced to fight for survival.”
Victoria’s donation laws, introduced in 2018, capped contributions to candidates and parties at just under $5,000 every four years.
But the legislation allowed Labor, Liberal and National parties to use their long-established nominated entities to move large, older funds outside the cap. Newer movements, minor parties and independents had no equivalent mechanism.
Hopper argues that imbalance is at the centre of the West Party’s High Court challenge, which is scheduled to be heard in February.
“If anything, these proposed changes show that the Government is worried it will lose in the High Court in February,” he said.
“They also show how desperate the Government is to keep as much of the rigged system as they can. And let’s not forget—the rigged system has been in place for years.”
He says the restrictions affected electoral outcomes, including in Werribee — where he recorded 14.7 per cent of the vote in the recent by-election, where voters shifted away from the major parties.
Liberal candidate Steve Murphy achieved a 3.7 per cent primary swing, but the combined movement to minor parties and independents suggested deeper dissatisfaction rather than a traditional two-party contest.
“Imagine how different things might be if the system wasn’t rigged when we went to the polls in 2022,” Hopper said.
Despite the Government’s pledge that the amendments strengthen integrity and ensure fairness, Hopper says the core problem remains untouched.
“These proposed changes will change nothing, and the High Court challenge will continue,” he said.
With the court date approaching and political pressure increasing ahead of the 2026 election, the fight over Victoria’s donation laws is shaping into a major test of the state’s campaign rules — and who they ultimately benefit.
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