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.

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (12:44): I move:

That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 to prohibit political donations from certain industries, and for related purposes. Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Donations Reform) Bill 2014.
Question agreed to.

Senator RHIANNON: I present the bill and move:

That this bill may proceed without formalities and be now read a first time.
Question agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

The Australian Greens spokesperson for higher education Senator Lee Rhiannon today announced that the Greens would legislate to strengthen national whistle-blower laws to guarantee anonymity and immunity to those from the private sector for the first time.

"Recent events in the higher education sector have highlighted the inadequacies in Australia's current whistle-blower protection regime.

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (16:04): I move:

That the Senate-

(a) notes that:

(i) the current member for Warringah stated in 1997, in reference to development on Middle Head in Sydney Harbour, that he had organised a number of protest meetings and campaigned strongly to ensure this piece of heritage was not lost to the people of Sydney and Australia;

The Greens dissenting report on the FOI Bill before the Senate recommends that the legislation is not passed and that the Coalition government establish a comprehensive review into the workings of FOI as recommended by the Hawke Review.

Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said, "The Bill is a setback for FOI and privacy protection and is effectively another broken commitment by Attorney General Senator George Brandis and Prime Minister Tony Abbott to lead an open and accountable government.

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (15:38): At the request of Senator Milne, I move:

That the Senate calls on the Government to establish a National Independent Commission Against Corruption, delivered through an integrity commissioner, to ensure Australia is equipped with a national framework for the comprehensive prevention of corruption and misconduct, and to restore faith of the Australian people in the integrity of our democracy.

Lee's adjournment speech on NSW ICAC. 
23 September 2014.

The Greens are calling for the controversial Liberal party slush fund, the Free Enterprise Foundation, to be shut down.

Greens spokesperson for democracy Senator Lee Rhiannon said "The Free Enterprise Foundation is toxic to democracy with this fund raising arm of the NSW Liberals laundering more than $700,000 for that party.

"There is now overwhelming evidence before ICAC of the role of Free Enterprise Foundation in funnelling money into the NSW Liberal Party from banned donors.