From AFR.com, authors Phillip Coorey and Laura Tingle (my bolding):
Federal political parties will begin lining their pockets with millions of dollars in extra public funding well before the September 14 federal election due to a clause which backdates the new pay-outs to April 1.
The government confirmed the first quarterly instalment of about $2.5million will be distributed as soon as legislation passes the Senate next month, boosting the campaign war chests of all players. Some of the September quarter money may be distributed before the election.
The new, additional public funding for so-called “administrative’’ purposes, is worth a combined $20million a year to all parties and elected independents over three years.
It was secretly negotiated between Labor, the Liberal Party and the Nationals over more than a year.
Coming on top of the tens of millions in existing public funding shelled out after each election, parties and independents will now receive $1 for each vote they receive in the House of Representatives and $1 for each Senate vote. The money will be paid at 33c a year and in quarterly instalments.
The backdated payment for the June quarter will be based on the 2010 election results.
Legislation will be introduced on Wednesday and be through both houses when the Senate resumes on June 17. …
Rotten to the core.