Election expenditure caps way to stop Palmer style spending excesses

The Greens have called on the Coalition and Labor parties to support caps on electoral expenditure to eliminate the unfair advantage wealthy people can gain for their candidates by spending millions of dollars on election advertising.

Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon is in discussion with her Senate colleagues to introduce legislation that would set election spending caps.

"Reports that Clive Palmer spent more on advertising in the WA Senate by-election than the combined spend of all other parties should be a wake up call to Prime Minister Tony Abbott and opposition leader Bill Shorten.

"Democracy only works when it is based on a fair electoral system.

"Wealthy individuals like Mr Palmer are using their money to influence election results through saturation advertising.

"In 2010 the Greens were successful in winning support for election spending caps in NSW. Modest limits should come in nationally and for all elections around the country.

"Caps on election expenditure would go a long way to limiting the influence large donors have on politicians," Senator Rhiannon said.

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