Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (15:56): I move:

Responding to Malcolm Turnbull’s comments on Senate voting reform, Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said:

“Mr Turnbull would be wise to be a team player on Senate voting reform and back the plan adopted by all MPs, including government representatives on the Electoral Matters Committee, and support the abolition of Senate group voting tickets so voters can determine their own preferences.

“There is a serious flaw in Mr Turnbull’s suggestion that could penalise minor parties.

Senator RHIANNON: Thanks for outlining this. It is impressive to see how it is coming together. I was certainly impressed with the emphasis that you gave, Mr Rogers, about culture, because I think that is often lost sight of these days. It is one thing to change the rules, but it is how we actually bring them into place. With regard to storage—again I really understood you were talking about from inception to grave, right through—the integrity and protection of those ballot papers goes to the heart of what we are talking about.

Senator RHIANNON: I would like to understand, firstly, how you went about your report—who you interviewed and how that was undertaken. Did you take in camera evidence?

Mr Morris : No.

Ms Horton : Not in camera evidence, no.

Senator RHIANNON: On 18 October 2011, Mr Rogers, your predecessor, Mr Ed Killesteyn, told estimates in relation to disclosures coming in past the deadline:

We have ... put on record a consideration that ... there would be value in consideration being given to an administrative penalty, which we believe might assist in compliance. But that is for strict objective penalties, such as late lodgement. There are other areas of offences such as misleading statements and so forth ...
Do you agree with the previous commissioner's comments?

Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said: 

"The Australian Electoral Commission 2013/2014 data shows that donations from mining companies to the federal Coalition increased by 350 per cent from the previous year.

"In 2013/2014 donations to the federal Coalition totalled $1 126 300. In 2012/2013 and 2011/2012 donations were approximately $311 600 and $191 000 respectively.

Click here for a link to the new Democracy for Sale site.

The Australian Greens say electoral funding data released today by the Australian Electoral Commission reveals that political donations in the 2013-2014 financial year hit a record $202 million, which is an increase of 600 per cent from the previous year.

The federal Liberal Party's failure to declare a $200,000 donation, from a Grundy related company, again highlights the need for a national ICAC and for a major overhaul of electoral funding laws, Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon.

"The federal Liberal Party have been exposed using a third party, in this case the Free Enterprise Foundation, to try and hide the donor of this large donation," Senator Rhiannon said.

The Abbott government seeks to privatise everything from higher education to the Australian Mint to its response to the Ebola crisis. It has extended its reach into state governments' policies in a push for them to privatise their public assets in order to receive infrastructure fundng.

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (12:46):

I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I table an explanatory memorandum and seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted.

The speech read as follows-