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Media Release - 13 January 2009
The crisis in Australia's electoral funding and disclosure system is
set to worsen now that the Rudd government has abandoned passing reform
legislation before the next election predicted NSW Greens MP and
donations spokesperson Lee Rhiannon today. (http://bit.ly/8wDOLf)
"Labor's betrayal on campaign finance reform will only amplify the
political donation crisis that is undermining Australian politics,"
said Ms Rhiannon.
"Special Minister of State Joe Ludwig has failed to follow through on
the clear commitment of his predecessor John Faulkner that the reforms
would be passed before the coming federal election.
"The public is deeply concerned about the corrupting influence that
corporate donations have had on our system of democracy, and they
expect change.
"Without promised reform, donation scandals will continue to rock the major parties during this federal election year.
"It is frustrating that the Rudd government has backtracked as state
governments are struggling to undertake reform without a federal
framework.
"Prime Minister Kevin Rudd should be driving the reform process to stem
the flow of corporate money that has been so damaging to his party and
the wider democratic process.
"It's not too late to resurrect Senator Faulkner's strong vision for
donations reform articulated in the government's first electoral reform
green paper.
"The Coalition are also implicated in the derailing of the electoral funding reform plans.
"Opposition leader Tony Abbott and his NSW counterpart Barry O'Farrell
are focussed on corporate fundraising for their respective election
campaigns, not donations reform.
"In NSW alone the major parties have accepted $130 million in donations
during the past 10 years. The major parties' federal divisions have
accepted over $140 million.
"The culture of money politics has caused the public to become deeply cynical and lose confidence in our political process.
"The major parties should be working together to keep the reform process on track," said Ms Rhiannon.
For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568.
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Search for donations disclosed to either the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) or the NSW Election Funding Authority (NSWEFA).
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