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Time to reform political donations

Send an email to our national leaders

 

Our system of political donations is in urgent need of reform - huge donations from powerful organisations and individuals are undermining and damaging our democratic process.

Millions of dollars are donated from corporations - including tobacco companies and their allies in gaming, hospitality and retail. These donations - along with those of big developers, polluters and many more - are used to gain access and influence, as well as pay for costly, drawn-out election campaigns.  Money buys access to politicians - so wealthy donors can influence government decisions, often advantaging the donor at the wider community’s cost.

Politicians also “double dip” by getting the community to pay for their election costs, while at the same time funding extravagant campaigns from private donations.   

While countries like NZ, Canada and the UK have acted to limit election funding, Australia has lagged behind. Our parties are engaged in an increasingly US-style fund-raising race which puts commercial interests ahead of evidence-based policies and community support.

Legislative reform is long overdue.  ASH is joining other public interest groups in calling for more transparency, a ban on organisational donations, caps on individual donations, and limits on electoral spending.  

More info: see  www.ashaust.org.au/lv4/PolDonsASHsubm09.doc  for ASH submission to Australian Government including our 10-point reform plan.
More on this issue at  democratic.audit.anu.edu.au/ ,   www.democracywatch.com.au   and  www.democracy4sale.org/

Click below on “Take action now” to email the responsible Minister (Special Minister of State, Senator Joe Ludwig), and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott

On the email page you can also choose to become a supporter of this ongoing campaign

  and/or contact other Ministers or your local MP
- see  contacts

and/or sign a petition at   www.getup.org.au/campaign/PoliticalDonations&id=692