The bill amends the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and related legislation to achieve its objectives through three main pillars: improving transparency, reducing financial influence, and leveling the playing field. Key measures include:

• Lowering the donation disclosure threshold from $16,300 to $1,000 and requiring real-time disclosure within seven days when this threshold is exceeded.
• Prohibiting misleading or deceptive electoral matter, aligned with the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Stop the Lies) Bill 2022.
• Broadening the definition of a gift to cover all monetary and in-kind payments, ensuring dark money is disclosed.
• Introducing a major-donor donation cap and prohibiting donations from industries causing social harm, such as tobacco and fossil fuels, as well as substantial government contractors.
• Restricting government advertising from two years after an election until the next election, and ensuring the independence of the postal vote process.
• Establishing an independent campaign entity to give registered independent candidates the same treatment as political parties.
• Increasing the number of senators for the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory to half the number of senators for a state, with three senators elected at each federal election for six-year terms.

From the explanatory memo:

The reforms aim to rebuild trust in the political system by ensuring decisions are made in the country's interests, not for vested interests, and by allowing new challengers to communicate alternative ideas to voters.