Heat now on Federal Labor and the Coalition to catch up to NSW govt on donations reform

Federal Labor and the Coalition are now lagging behind the NSW government following this afternoon’s announcement by NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell that donations will be restricted to individuals, said Greens Senator and democracy spokesperson Lee Rhiannon.

“NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell’s announcement today puts the heat on Federal Labor and Liberal to stop dragging their feet on electoral funding reform and ban all corporate donations”, said Senator Rhiannon.

“NSW Labor General Secretary Sam Dasytari recently stated at a conference on electoral democracy that national donations reforms were four to five years away and that the reforms could not proceed until all states and territories were in agreement.

“The Federal Liberal party have not even lodged a submission to the current Inquiry into electoral funding.

“The pressure is now on Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to take electoral funding reform off the backburner.

“The Greens are calling for nationwide uniform laws on electoral funding to remove corporate influence from decision-making and restore public confidence in democracy.

“The full detail of the NSW reforms is still under wraps but I welcome today’s announcement by NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell that donations from corporations, peak industry groups, religious institutions, community organisations and industrial organisations will be banned.

“The devil is always in the detail but this move does push the NSW government well out in front of the federal government on donations reform”, Senator Rhiannon said.

A recent blog by Senator Rhiannon, ‘Has electoral funding reform been dropped by Labor and Coalition?’ is here: http://bit.ly/qEue2f

Contact: Greens Senator for NSW Lee Rhiannon 0487 350 880