The Australian Senate has passed a Greens motion that will require the Australian Electoral Commission to release information on how the Senate vote is counted and correspondence on why a FOI claim on this issue was refused.

The motion requires the AEC to publicly release the source code of the software used to count the Senate vote. Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon moved the motion after the AEC knocked back an FOI request by Michael Cordover and then declared him a vexatious litigant.

Lee successfully moves a motion that the AEC produce the Senate count software requested by Michael Cordover.

I move:

That there be laid on the table by the Special Minister of State, no later than 15 July 2014:

(a) all correspondence and documents, whether written or in email form, from the Special Minister of State‘s office and/or the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) relevant to:

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (20:44): Thirty-nine years ago on 4 July 1975, Juanita Nielsen went to Abe Saffron's Carousel Club in Kings Cross. She was never seen again. As another year passes and as we mark one more anniversary of Juanita's disappearance, I rise to pay tribute to Juanita and remember her life.

Responding to the call by outgoing Liberal Party federal President Alan Stockdale for his party to accept corporate membership fees, Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon has said this would defeat efforts to clean up politics.

Mr Stockdale said he was making the proposal in response to expected greater electoral funding regulation and moves to ban corporate donations. http://ab.co/1qCFd2b

The Australian Greens have called on all parties to support the call of the former head of the NSW ICAC for a national anti-corruption body to be set up with the powers of a royal commission (ABC Four Corners http://tinyurl.com/n26uovu).

"If Labor and the Coalition do not now back a national ICAC the obvious question will be what do they have to hide?" Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said.

Responding to revelations that Reg Grundy made the $200k donation to the Free Enterprise Foundation, Greens spokesperson for democracy Senator Lee Rhiannon said:

"Was it the ‘Wheel of Fortune' or ‘Sale of the Century' when the Free Enterprise Foundation tried to quietly bring in $200,000 from Monte Carlo?

"While the donation of $200,000 is legal it has provided further insight into the murky world of Liberal fundraising and the lack of transparency in regards to political donations.

Senator RHIANNON: Mr Rogers, I was interested in your opening remarks with the emphasis on the integrity of the process and quality and compliance. However, as you read through it, I noted that it was about voting—which is very important—but that was the only issue that you took up. I have got to say that I was surprised. You have heard tonight considerable consideration questions given to the issue of disclosure.

Senator RHIANNON: ... I understand that, with regard to the Electoral Act, if disclosures are not made properly and if there are inconsistencies the Australian Electoral Commission has to refer investigations of all possible potential offences, other than a failure to vote, to the AFP for investigation.

MEDIA COMMENT
24 May 2014

Commenting on Speaker Bronwyn Bishop holding Liberal Party fundraisers in her Parliament House office, Senator Lee Rhiannon Greens democracy spokesperson said

"This is a serious abuse that puts the Prime Minister under intense pressure to move far reaching electoral funding reforms.

"Holding a fundraiser in the Speaker's office is not just an issue about the future of Bronwyn Bishop as Speaker.

"Holding political party fundraising events should be banned from parliament.