Commenting on reports that Federal Speaker Bronwyn Bishop spent more than $5,000 on a charter flight from Melbourne to Geelong, Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said:

"It would be appropriate for Ms Bishop to immediately pay back the $5,000 if she did bill the taxpayer for a charter flight in order to attend a political party fundraiser.

"Ms Bishop's charter flight is yet another political scandal involving entitlements and shows the urgent need for entitlements reform.

Commenting on reports that Liberal MP Bronwyn Bishop spent $5,000 on 80km charter helicopter flight from Melbourne to Geelong, Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said:

"If Ms Bishop argues that her $5000 helicopter ride is within the rules clearly it is time that the rules for MPs' entitlements were given a major overhaul.

"There is no justification for MPs using public money to attend party fund raising events.

Greens animal welfare spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said that Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce has mislead farmers and the public when he expressed surprise saying he was "disappointed" over the Indonesian government's plan to cut cattle imports from Australia.

"How could Minister Joyce be surprised and disappointed when news of the Indonesian decision has been on the public record for many years," Senator Rhiannon said.

1// It’s undemocratic

The current Senate voting system is almost like a lottery. You vote for one person, then your vote ends up electing somebody totally different.

Convoluted, complicated, and often secretive preference deals means you have no control over where your vote ends up. Some micro-parties are even created for the sole purpose of funnelling preferences and being a cog in the machine that manipulates your vote, distorting our democracy.

Responding to the shocking report on the activities of Australian mining companies operating in Africa, Greens overseas aid and development spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon has called for federal government assistance for the relatives of those killed and for the investigation to be reopened. (Fairfax: http://bit.ly/1SeBOlP )

Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon has urged Labor Party officials to ensure far reaching political donation reform is a top priority for debate and decision at their July National Conference.

"Labor need to come out of its national conference with a strong plan to place limits on private donations to political parties and candidates," Senator Rhiannon said.

"We need action, not just commentary every time a scandal is exposed.

Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon has urged the Prime Minister and leader of the opposition to move quickly to clean up electoral funding laws following the reports linking major political fund raising with a campaign to allow a known mafia figure to stay in Australia.

"Prime Minister Tony Abbott and opposition leader Bill Shorten can't expect this scandal to blow over. They need to recognise how discredited political fund raising activities are," Senator Rhiannon said.

• Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie ridiculed over attempts June 3, ABC Online

Australian Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon in Western NSW for meetings with councillors and to offer support to local campaigns.

Senator Rhiannon will meet with -
• Matthew Parmeter, co-ordinator of the SEXI solar project
• Orana Regional Organisation of Councils
• Bogan and Cobar Shire councillors
• Nyngan Solar Farm
• Meeting about the Dubbo Zirconia Project with Uranium Free NSW
• Dubbo Local Aboriginal Land Council
• John Ryan on the Macquarie 2100 project
• Peter Muller, universal dental care campaigner

Today's reports that the Mafia are attending political party fundraisers and donating to Liberal and Labor candidates puts the spotlight on the need for urgent overhaul of electoral funding laws, Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said.

"The clean-up of party funding rules needs to start now. It's time to ban corporate political donations and tighten up disclosure requirements," Senator Rhiannon said.