Greens Bill to ban political donations from developers, tobacco, alcohol, gambling and mining industries

Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon will today introduce into the Senate the party's Donations Reform Bill that would ban political donations from developers, tobacco, alcohol, gambling and mining industries.

"The Bill if passed would help bring consistency to electoral funding laws and restore public confidence in the work of governments, ministers and individual MPs.

"The work of ICAC, the NSW corruption watchdog, has highlighted how state reforms to electoral funding have been abused. Some NSW Liberals have sidestepped state limits on donations by funnelling donations through their federal office.

"Reform at the federal level is long overdue.

"The Greens Bill would forbid parties accepting money or gifts from the five industries. We have targeted these businesses as they are perceived as having an inappropriate influence on decision makers.

"The Greens NSW Democracy4Sale project work in monitoring the past decade of political donations has put the spotlight on the influence peddling associated with corporate bankrolling of parties and candidates.

"In the past five years the minerals industry has donated more than $5 million, the gambling industry $4 million and the property industry more than $9 million to political parties.

"Experience with both Labor and Coalition governments at state and federal levels have shown worrying trends, with some industries picking up windfall gains from ministerial and cabinet decisions.

"This bill deserves support from all sides of politics as it would help restore public confidence in the work of governments, ministers and individual MPs," Senator Rhiannon said.

Contact - Brami Jegan 0487 350 880