Queensland LNP member George Christensen wrote on Twitter that he was ‘‘receiving many emails [regarding the] anti funding boost 2 parties’’ and that he shared the public concern. Independent MPs Rob Oakeshott, left, and Tony Windsor are angry at a deal between Labor and the Coalition on political funding. Credit:Andrew Meares ‘‘In time of budget crisis should we be boosting funds 2 parties?’’ he wrote. The Labor and Coalition deal has also drawn heavy criticism from the independents and the Greens, with independent MP Rob Oakeshott saying it "smacks of cartel and collusion behaviour’’. He also said the moves were a breach of the signed agreement between himself, independent Tony Windsor and Prime Minister Julia Gillard during negotiations to form government.

Anger over the deal flared again on Wednesday, when it was revealed that the funding would be backdated to April, giving parties a cash boost before the September election. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus dismissed suggestions the deal could fall over as a result of the growing backlash on Wednesday afternoon, saying that Labor had reached an agreement with the Coalition.

''I am confident that the bill which has been negotiated will pass through the parliament.'' Mr Dreyfus confirmed that the major parties would see an increase in funding for votes that Craig Thomson and Peter Slipper got in 2010, despite the fact the two MPs now sit on the crossbenches. ''They were votes for the Liberal party in the case of Mr Slipper and votes for the Labor party in the case of Mr Thomson,'' he explained. The electoral funding deal, which was negotiated privately between the major parties and is expected to be introduced into the House of Representatives on Thursday morning, would reportedly give parties and independents $1 for each vote they receive in either house of parliament.

It would also reduce the threshold at which political donations must be disclosed to $5000, from $12,400 (indexed). It would reportedly cost taxpayers more than $50 million over the next four years. Asked on Wednesday morning why the deal had been backdated to April, Treasurer Wayne Swan said the laws had been in the works for five years: ''We finally reached an agreement and it's appropriate it applies for the coming election.'' Mr Swan said there had been an element of public funding in the political system since 1984. ''These are important reforms to ensure there is integrity in our political system, and yes it does have an element of public funding with it,'' he told reporters in Canberra.

''It's part and parcel of making sure that our political system is not captured by people with large amounts of money.'' Leader of the House Anthony Albanese justified the deal on the basis that the issue of election funding was a ''bipartisan'' one. It was an issue, he said, to be decided by the two major parties. Mr Albanese was then asked why this single issue of electoral funding had to be bipartisan and could not be passed with the support of the Greens and independents as did other legislation. ''What I know is that if I was standing here saying we've got a partisan piece of legislation on electoral reform, I think you'd be very critical of it,'' Mr Albanese said. Mr Oakeshott said the crossbenchers had been ''knee deep'' in every piece of legislation in the past three years, but he knew nothing about the electoral funding legislation.

His crossbench colleague, Mr Windsor, said ''this is wrong'' and Australians should be concerned about the effect the secret deal would have on their democracy. He hoped the public outrage would convince Labor and Coalition to change their minds. Asked about the reports of backdating, Mr Windsor said: ''I think it's wrong and I think the Australian community thinks it's wrong too.'' The deal angered ALP elder John Faulkner, who reportedly told caucus on Tuesday that was ''no longer angry . . . but ashamed'' at the compromise with the Coalition. MP Daryl Melham also spoke in caucus against the move, with both he and Senator Faulkner pointing out that Labor has long-argued for a threshold of $1000 when it comes to disclosure. Leader of the House Anthony Albanese, Ageing Minister Mark Butler, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Resources Minister Gary Gray all spoke in favour of the legislation - which caucus ultimately backed.

It is understood they argued in favour of a compromise with the Coalition on party donations - hence the $5000 amount. It is understood the vote was carried overwhelmingly but not unanimously. Senator Faulkner had been at the forefront of funding reform, pushing for a tougher, Canadian-style regime since the Rudd government. Loading Despite early enthusiasm from the party, Senator Faulkner's bid for change has been thwarted since 2008 by forces within the Coalition and Labor.