00:00For more than three decades, Paul Hopper has been selling cars in Melbourne's ever-expanding
00:06West.
00:07Have a sit inside, have a look, say what you think.
00:09He's also been selling himself to his community, aspiring to be their man in State Parliament.
00:14I am fiercely protective of the tribe out here, born out here, born in Werribee, love
00:19the people, love the community.
00:21He was unsuccessful as an Independent two years ago, but is now setting up a new West
00:24Party with fellow Independents.
00:26In that process, the unevenness of Victoria's donation laws were laid bare.
00:31And that's just unfair, it's undemocratic and shouldn't be the case.
00:34We should be able to have the same level playing field as the major parties have.
00:39Since 2018, donations from any individual or group to any party or candidate is capped
00:43at $4,850 over a four year period.
00:47There is no expenditure limit, but Labor, Liberals and the Nationals were given an exemption
00:51to set up nominated entities, a body that can hand out cash outside the cap from funds
00:56accumulated over decades.
00:58It's highly problematic that only the legacy parties are able to benefit from them and
01:03Independent candidates don't even have the ability to set one up.
01:08Hi, how are you?
01:10Sophie Tawney was one of a swag of Teal candidates who gave the Liberals a scare in Victoria
01:14at the 2022 state election.
01:17The Teals are joining forces with the West Party and others to challenge the laws in
01:21the High Court.
01:22While reform is about shoring up democracy, these types of reform are really about shoring
01:28up the future of the major parties.
01:30There is no noble purpose behind these nominated entities existing.
01:35Lawyers will argue these rules are unconstitutional because it restricts political communication
01:40without a legitimate reason, such as public safety.
01:43And the state's own review of these laws in March recommended that nominated entities
01:47be scrapped.
01:48The state government is yet to respond.
01:51We already have the strongest donation laws in the country.
01:55With federal and South Australian parliaments considering similar rules, it sets the scene
02:00for a big day in court.
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