Door opens on electoral funding – time to clean up political donations

Commenting on today’s government announcement on electoral funding reform, Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon has called for the new law to include bans and caps on political donations to ensure an end to the corrupting culture of corporate money buying influence in the democratic process.

“While it is good news that the government has come on board and is now ready to introduce legislation to enable administrative funding and tighten up disclosure rules on political donations, they need to commit to the whole package of reforms and include bans on donations from corporations and all organisations,” Senator Rhiannon said.

“Federal Labor has been under increasing pressure to clean up political donations from sustained campaigning by community groups and the Greens over many years. 

 “The Greens are ready to work with Special Minister of State Gary Gray to bring in national electoral funding laws that would end the unsavoury influence of political donations on political parties.

“These reforms have strong public support. 

“It is vital that the government moves on legislation to adopt a strong electoral funding reform package. If an Abbott government is elected progress will stall.

 “Earlier this month the South Australian government announced they were considering joining NSW, Queensland and the ACT and put forward legislation to clean up political donations. 

“Federal legislation is needed so we have a uniform national system.  

"The latest political donations disclosure released by the Australian Electoral Commission on February 1 revealed $12.3 million was donated to the federal divisions of Labor and Coalition parties in the last financial year," Senator Rhiannon said.

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