Now given a deal has been done between the Coalition and Labor to pass Labor’s donation changes (which was always going to be the outcome, because neither major party wanted the independents and Greens to be able to negotiate for actual reform here) let’s take a moment to look at what that deal means.

Yes, it is a terrible deal for independent and minority party candidates. Yes, it is an unfair playing field and yes, it does nothing to actually improve transparency around donations and big money in politics.

BUT.

It also is a gift to the independent and minor party candidates who can very loudly campaign on how the major parties will continue to run a protection racket for the two-party system. When push comes to shove, the major parties will back each other to circle the wagons and keep out actual change.

If there was ever an argument for the power of independent and minor parties to actually make change in a minority government, this is it. So yes, it’s a terrible ‘reform’ and yes, the major parties think they have sewn this up.

But if you are someone who voted for change at the last election, all you are seeing is the same old, same old from the major parties. So why would you be inspired to vote for a major party this time around if this transparency matters to you?

I’d be pretty nervous if I was a moderate Liberal trying to win or hold on to inner city seats where this has rated as an issue. And I’d be nervous in the future if I was an inner-city Labor MP, because this wave will be coming for them as well.

That’s what I would be campaigning on, in response to this deal, if I were an independent or minor party candidate.